On the Road to A World Without Depression

Abstract

This is an English translation of the 1999 George Albee Lecture on Primary Prevention, presented by Ricardo F. Munoz at the World Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health in Santiago, Chile, September 8, 1999. The English version is true to the original and maintains the colloquial style of the verbal presentation. Munoz highlights the need for prevention efforts to address the many public health problems linked to depression. He reviews empirical evidence regarding these links including depression and substance abuse, and the effect of providing mood management interventions to ameliorate problems linked to depression. He ends by describing past and current studies being carried out at San Francisco General Hospital which illustrate the feasibility of influencing many public health problems by providing prevention interventions focused on depression.