The role of community nurses in the management of depression

Abstract

Today one in six people in England suffer from a mental health disorder equating to around eight million people being affected in UK. Mental health problems are very common with depression ranked as the third most frequent cause of consultation in general practice. Depression is a common condition with 9 of every 10 cases is treated in primary care. The costs of treating depression have been shown to outweigh those of treating psychoses. It is now widely seen to be a burden for those who suffer from the condition including the economic and health costs. In clinical practice, it is important for clinicians to identify and accurately assess depression and have an awareness of some of the pharmacological treatment and psychological management strategies available. This article focuses on the concept of depression, assessment or screening, considers treatment options, management and educational preparation for specialist community public health nurses. Community nurses especially name professionals have a crucial role in identifying mental health problems, tackling stigma and developing models of collaborative working with mental health specialists to promote the overall mental wellbeing across the whole population lifespan from young children to older people