The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), along with other health partners in Qatar, joined the international community to mark World Health Day (WHD), commemorated each year on April 7. 
This year’s theme seeks to raise awareness of depression as the leading cause of ill-health and disability worldwide. 
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has initiated a year-long campaign that aims to encourage more people with depression, everywhere in the world, to seek and receive help. This commitment is shared by all health partners in Qatar, whose efforts underpin this year’s WHO World Health Day slogan: “Depression: let’s talk”.
According to the latest estimates from WHO, more than 300mn people currently live with depression, representing an increase of more than 18% from 2005 to 2015. The limited number of studies that have been undertaken in Qatar suggest that prevalence of mental disorders broadly reflect the WHO’s global estimates of prevalence. 
According to a baseline study carried out in Qatar in 2014, the barriers preventing those seeking professional help are predominantly related to fear of stigma.
“The continuing stigma associated with mental illness was the reason why we decided to name our campaign, Depression: let’s talk,” said Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. “For someone living with depression, talking to a person they trust is often the first step towards treatment and recovery.”
To commemorate World Health Day, HMC, PHCC and the other partners organised a series of events and interactive discussions aimed at creating awareness among physicians and the public about depression. They also took part in other activities such as awareness campaigns to educate the general public about depression, its causes, and possible consequences. The campaign also focused on providing the public with information on available prevention and treatment options.
Dr Fatema Mohamed Musa, head of Service Development at PHCC, said: “Depression is a common mental illness characterised by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that people normally used to enjoy. PHCC health centres are the first point of contact for patients with common mental health problems like depression. As patient-physician communication is an integral part of clinical practice, our physicians have undergone formal training to enhance their knowledge and skills, which are central to delivering a full and tailored service.”
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, “Major Depressive Disorder is the most burdensome disease in Qatar”.
Depression is not a sign of personal weakness but can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or socio-economic background. Effective treatments for moderate and severe depression are available, and the earlier a person receives help, the better the prognosis for recovery.
Dr Majid Ali al-Abdulla, consultant psychiatrist and deputy chairman of psychiatry in HMC’s Mental Health Service, explained that treatment for depression usually involves either talking therapy or antidepressant medication or a combination of the two. 
He added, “Someone who is suffering from depression can derive huge benefit from talking to a trusted individual. Simply expressing their feeling or concerns can help many people relieve the stress they may feel that can lead to depression. So we wholeheartedly support the WHO campaign that promotes people ‘talking’ about their issue before they are perceived to become insurmountable problems.”