Depression

WHO works with Member States and partners to reduce the burden of mental disorders such as depression. The World Health Assembly has discussed mental health on a number of occasions and, in 2019, approved the extension of WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan to 2030.

WHO has developed brief psychological intervention manuals for common mental health conditions including depression that may be delivered by lay workers. An example is Problem Management Plus, which can be used individually and in group format and employs behavioural techniques, relaxation training, problem-solving treatment and ways to strengthen social support. The manual Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) for Depression describes a group counselling approach that focuses on identifying and addressing interpersonal difficulties. Thinking Healthy covers the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for perinatal depression.

WHO has also developed self-help approaches which may help people with depression and can prevent the onset of mental disorders. Self-Help Plus (SH+) can be delivered to large groups and uses pre-recorded audio and WHO's illustrated guide (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress) to teach stress management skills. The illustrated guide Doing What Matters in Times of Stress can also be used by individuals, alone or with the accompanying audio exercises.

WHO’s mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) focuses on helping countries to scale up first-line support for mental health conditions through training of non-specialists. The WHO mhGAP Intervention Guides (mhGAP-IG and mhGAP HIG for humanitarian settings) can be used by trained and supervised general health staff and cover basic clinical mental health care for priority conditions including depression. This allows gaps in service to be filled and broadens the overall capacity of a country’s health-care system.