Epidemiological data clearly indicate that depression is becoming an increasingly important health and social problem today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression currently affects 350 million people worldwide and is considered the second most common cause of disability in Europe after ischemic heart disease. It is estimated that this health problem may affect as many as five million people in Poland. The gap between the reported number of patients treated and the prevalence of depression, highlights the scale of unmet needs. With the limited availability of specialists in psychiatric care, the most appropriate measures seem to be those aimed at increasing the competence of doctors of other specialties in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Early detection and treatment results in faster remission, reduces relapses and mortality. The recommendations concerning prevention of depression were commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Health as a part of the Depression Prevention Program for 2016-2020. The Program has developed recommendations addressed to specialists in various fields of medicine, other than psychiatry, focusing on three risk groups: children and adolescents, women in the perinatal period and the elderly. These recommendations focus on the management of suspected postpartum depression and provide specific guidelines for medical staff having contact with pregnant and postpartum women (gynecologists, midwives, pediatricians).

Introduction: Epidemiological data clearly indicate that depression is becoming an increasingly important health and social problem today. Depressive disorders occur at all ages, in men and women, in different cultures, affecting individuals, their families, and, more broadly, the social and economic system of the country. The gap between the recorded number of treated patients and the prevalence of depression highlights the scale of unmet needs. With limited availability of specialists in psychiatric care, the most appropriate measures seem to be those aimed at increasing the competence of other health professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Material and methods: An overview of the literature and available recommendations for the prevention, screening, and treatment of depression was performed. This work was commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Health under the Depression Prevention Program 2016-2020. Results: Based on the literature review, we compiled the recommendations for Polish health professionals. These recommendations focus on the management of depression in the primary care setting and provide guidelines for health professionals other than psychiatrists concerning the prevention, screening, and treatment of depression. Conclusions: We developed a clear recommendation for non-psychiatrists concerning the screening, treatment, and further management of patients with depression. Early detection of depression and implementation of treatment improves the outcomes and prognosis and reduces the mortality rate.