The world was urged today to end the stigma of depression as the 20th Mental Health Day arrived.
Some 350 million people globally suffer from the problem, according to the World Health Organisation.
It says many fail to seek help because of the stigma attached to the condition.
And it calls for better access to treatment for people with clinical depression. This is when depression lasts for longer than two weeks and interferes with the ability to function normally, WHO says.
World Mental Health Day was launched by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992.
Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO’s Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, said: "We have some highly effective treatments for depression. Unfortunately, fewer than half of the people who have depression receive the care they need. In fact in many countries this is less than 10%.
"This is why WHO is supporting countries in fighting stigma as a key activity to increasing access to treatment."
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