Mental health is central to reducing the global burden of NCDs (expected to overtake communicable disease as the continents biggest killer by 2030) with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and respiratory disease commonly co-occuring with mental and neurological diseases (MNDs). With the landmark inclusion of mental health targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with UN member states recently expanding their focus on the 'big-four' NCD to five-by-five approach, we review the current state of mental health care across Africa, exploring the impact of mental health on the wider public health agenda and identifying the true socio-economic costs of neglecting this crucial area. 

Key discussion areas:

• The impact of mental health challenges on the broader development agenda
• Opportunities and successes in tackling mental health in Africa 
• Raising awareness of mental health in Africa, addressing stigmas and policy gaps
• The interrelation and co-morbidity between mental health and infectious and non-communicable disease

This is Event 2 in ‘The Future of Public Health in Africa’ campaign, a series of three events exploring the challenges and opportunities defining public health in Africa today, as well as those that will come to shape it in the future.

We’ll be tackling a range of issues including emerging and re-emerging infectious disease, mental health and NCDs; and public health financing.

In person and live-streamed to our global online community, join us as we spotlight the latest scientific, technological and commercial innovation happening in and for Africa, and the people and organisations making it happen.

With insights canvassed from across Africa and around the world, we will identify a number of key recommendations that will be published after each event.