WHO works with Member States and partners to reduce the burden of mental disorders like depression. The World Health Assembly has passed several resolutions relating to the prevention and treatment of depression, including in a May 2013 resolution calling for a comprehensive, coordinated response to mental disorders at the country level.
WHO has developed brief psychological intervention manuals for depression that may be delivered by lay workers. An example is Problem Management Plus, which describes the use of behavioural techniques, relaxation training, problem-solving treatment and how to strengthen social support as means of managing depression. The manual Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) for Depression describes a group counselling approach that focuses on identifying and addressing interpersonal difficulties. Finally, Thinking Healthy covers the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for perinatal depression.
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. This allows gaps in service to be filled and broadens the overall capacity of a country’s health-care system.