Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka today delivered a strong call to action on mental health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the United Nations Headquarters, urging global leaders to prioritise mental well-being alongside physical health.
Speaking before world leaders and UN member state representatives, Prime Minister Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to the Political Declaration on the prevention of NCDs and the promotion of mental health, stressing the urgent need for integrated global responses.
“Mental health challenges—especially among our young people—too often go unrecognised,” he said.
“These are not just individual struggles; they are national challenges that impact our social cohesion and economic progress.”
He welcomed the timely focus of the UN meeting, highlighting Fiji’s endorsement of the Political Declaration and its alignment with the country’s push toward universal health coverage and strengthened mental health services.
He acknowledged that over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji are due to NCDs but stressed that mental health issues are equally serious and increasingly prevalent.
“The stigma, underfunding, and limited resources associated with mental illness remain major obstacles,” he said. “It’s time we treat mental health with the same urgency and investment as physical health.”
To address this, Fiji has scaled up efforts to decentralise mental health care, increase investment in psychological services, and train frontline health workers in providing psychological first aid.
He concluded by calling on international partners to share best practices and strengthen cooperation to improve mental health outcomes globally.
“Our people’s well-being depends not just on clinics and hospitals—but on global solidarity, inclusive policies, and collective investment in mental health,” he said.
