By Mark Haddad, Philip Boyce

Depression is both an overused term and, too often, a poorly managed condition. The authors have written this short text to help explain depression: its symptoms, causes, and risks; its impact; and how it can be identified, treated, and prevented.Depression is one of the commonest presenting problems in primary care, but all too often it is not identified and goes untreated. Yet, individuals who seek help for their depression – and whose healthcare professionals (HCPs) recognize it – can be treated effectively. For this to happen, HCPs need appropriate knowledge and skills, based on robust and up-to-date evidence, and to be supported by appropriate systems for service delivery.