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Stories and Viewpoints
Facing Forward: Real Stories of People Living with Noncommunicable Diseases
Caring for One Another
Viatris and the NCD Alliance partnered to raise awareness of NCDs. Learn more about two stories impacting those around the world.
By: The NCD Alliance
January 18, 2022
Raising awareness of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, mental health conditions, and cardiovascular disease, is critical – and as numbers of those affected are increasing globally, it’s more important now than ever before.
- NCDs cause 41 million people to die each year
- 70% of deaths worldwide are caused by NCDs
- One quarter of all people live with at least one NCD
- NCD deaths are expected to escalate to 52 million by 2030
That is why we, at the NCD Alliance, partnered with BBC StoryWorks to create “Facing Forward”, a series of 25 short films and 10 articles exploring the stories of real people around the globe who are living with NCDs.
Two impactful videos were created in collaboration with our partners at Viatris, who aim to empower people worldwide to live heathier at every stage of life. You can read short descriptions of these two videos below, but we encourage you to watch them and share your feedback on social media using the hashtags #FacingForward and #NCDs.
How the NCD Community Coped with COVID-19
Cris’ independent spirit was crushed when her worsening mental and physical health forced her to move back in with her parents during COVID-19. Being socially isolated while also coping with an NCD left Cris and her parents grasping at ways to share their frustrations, needs, and experiences with others who could provide both empathy and support. This film features the results of a Viatris patient survey conducted in 2020/2021, and is accompanied by a feature article.
Speaking Out Against Mental Health Stigma
When Ali’s anxiety first emerged, it was not understood or accepted by his community – but left untreated, things only got worse. Then a podcast began to foster a culture of openness, showing that alternative approaches to improving mental health can exist alongside more traditional ones.