Growing global concerns about mental health and tobacco use are drawing increased attention and action from governments, organizations and communities worldwide. Globally, there are over 1 billion individuals with mental health conditions and 1.3 billion tobacco users. The Issue Brief helps to inform and guide actions aimed at supporting those who may be at risk of being left behind. It presents evidence on the overlooked linkages between mental health conditions and tobacco use, with substantial socioeconomic impacts, especially on marginalized communities such as low-income individuals, LGBTI+ people and persons with disabilities. The Issue Brief offers practical policy recommendations, including an integrated approach, increasing tobacco taxes, integrating mental health and tobacco cessation treatments into the basic benefit package of universal health coverage, reducing stigmatization of individuals with mental health conditions and tobacco users, and preventing tobacco industry interference in policymaking. 

An accessible format version of this Issue Brief is available for persons who are blind or slightly sighted: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-10/undp-rbap-issue-brief-on-mental-health-and-tobacco-use-accessible-version-1.pdf