- English
- Español
- Home
- Topics
- Countries
- Resources
-
- Publications
- Data
-
Tools
- Digital Health Library
- Virtual Health Library
- Virtual Campus for Public Health
- PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centres
- Regional Revolving Funds
-
Initiatives
- The Decade of Healthy Aging
- Elimination Initiative
- Migration and Health in the Americas
- Better Care for NCDs Initiative
- HEARTS in the Americas
- Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030
- Alerts and Epidemiologic Updates
-
Documents
- Mandates
- Technical and Scientific Products
- One Health
-
- News
-
- Resources for Journalists
- News Releases
- Country News
- Technical Unit News
- Events
- Stories
-
Communication materials
- Brochures
- Infographics
- Champions of Health
- Public Health Heroes
- Collaborators
-
Campaigns
- Past campaigns
- PAHO Newsletters
- PAHO Podcast
- PAHO Calendars
-
- About
-
-
About PAHO/WHO
- History of PAHO
- PAHO's Former Directors
- Organizational Chart
- Statement of Assessed Contributions due from Member States
-
What We Do
- Communicable Disease Prevention, Control, and Elimination
- Comprehensive Immunization
- Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health
- Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies
- Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity
- Health Emergencies
- Health Systems and Services
- Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
-
Governance
- Pan American Sanitary Conference
- Directing Council
- Executive Committee
- Subcommittee on Program, Budget and Administration
-
Careers at PAHO
- Internships
- Partnerships
- Investigations Office
- Office of Internal Audit
-
Director's Page
- Speeches
-
-
About us
The Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and implementing technical cooperation activities related to the prevention, control, and surveillance of noncommunicable diseases, all forms of malnutrition, mental health, neurological and substance use disorders, including their risk factors. It also promotes policies and strategies related to disabilities and rehabilitation, road safety, as well as prevention of and response to violence in all its forms.
NMH raises political, public, and professional awareness and helps policymakers, health authorities, practitioners, and communities to understand the burden of NCDs, all forms of malnutrition, external causes, risk factors, and the impact of the social and commercial determinants of health.
NMH promotes multi-sector and multi-stakeholder strategies that strengthen the capacity of Member States to promote and protect health through public policies, programs, services, and surveillance, to prevent and control risks, improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and self-management to reduce the burden of death and disabilities and improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of the population.
Our initiatives
NCDs Interactive Data Visualizations
The PAHO data portal provides key indicators on noncommunicable diseases, mental health, injuries, and risk factors, including topics like nutrition, physical activity, substance use, and disability. It offers interactive visualizations to help users explore data, uncover insights, and support efforts to reduce NCDs, injuries, and mental health challenges in the Americas.
For more information visit our Surveillance and Monitoring of NCDs and Mental Health website
On the road to the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs
Looking ahead to the Fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (HLM4) in 2025 when the Heads of State and Government will come together to set a vision to prevent and control NCDs towards 2030 and 2050 through a political declaration to be decided in the UN General Assembly.
Learn More
Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases
NMH Newsletter
Subscribe to the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health's email list for the monthly newsletter and updates on webinars and events.
Latest issue:
Special issue:World No Tobacco Day 2025
Previous Issues
Access the NMH Newsletter past issues.
ACCESS
Free virtual courses
Virtual Course on Fundamentals of Palliative Care - 2020
Virtual Course on Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control
Preventing Self-harm/suicide: Empowering Primary Health Care Providers
Psychological First Aid (PFA) in disaster management in the Caribbean
Virtual Campus for Public Health
EXPLORE MORE COURSES
Multimedia
Identification of survivors of partner violence and sexual violence - LIVES Ser… 
Noncommunicable Diseases and their Risk Factors 
#DoYourShare to support mental health 
NCDs in the Region of the Americas: celebrating PAHO’s 120 years 
- Load More
News
PAHO/WHO convenes journalists to reshape how road safety is covered in Latin America
PAHO Director and CARICOM Secretary-General sign 2025-2029 Joint Subregional cooperation strategy to advance health and equity in the Caribbean
Health Professionals from 16 Latin American Countries Receive Training on Care for Children and Adolescent Survivors of Violence
PAHO Launches Community of Practice to Strengthen the Health Sector's Response to Violence against Women and Girls in Latin America
- More
Regional Stories
Mexico: the long road to tobacco control
More women on bicycles: an urban transport policy in favor of health and equality
Moving beyond the hospital to raise awareness, diagnose and treat cervical cancer in Paraguay
Coordination on mental health: a priority in emergencies
- More
Country Stories
Violence, a challenge for public health: stories of resilience and hope
Reaching 100,000 hearts on two islands
Quitting Smoking after 17 Years - "It’s Possible"
Afro-Bolivian communities and primary care physicians trained in mental health and psychosocial support
- More
Events
View Events
The status of drowning prevention and control in Latin America and the Caribbean
8 Aug 2025 - 8 Aug 2025
Prioritizing Breastfeeding in Latin America and the Caribbean: Toward Sustainable Support Systems
7 Aug 2025 - 7 Aug 2025
Best Buys to reduce risks, prevent NCDs and promote health
25 Jul 2025 - 25 Jul 2025
- More
Documents
All
Major storm on the horizon: Health and macroeconomic burdens of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions in South America
NCDs at a Glance 2025. NCDs surveillance and monitoring: Noncommunicable disease mortality and risk factor prevalence in the Americas
- More
Communication Materials
Mandates and Strategies
All
74 Health Assembly - EB148.R6 “The highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities”
CD61/10 -Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030
CD60/9 -Strategy for Improving Mental Health and Suicide Preventionin the Region of the Americas
Policy for Improving Mental Health
- More
