Dear Friends,
We are delighted to announce the publication of the Lancet - World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Commission: Time for united action on depression today!
About the Commission
The Commission aims to advance understanding of the nature of depression, laying to rest nihilistic debates-such as the idea that depression is simply sadness, that it is a creation of biomedicine, or that its roots are either biological or social and to provide evidence that depression can be prevented and treated if we move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
Recognising depression as a central yet neglected global health problem led to the creation of this Commission. It has a mandate to present a balanced view of the available evidence on these and other core questions, also indicating the grey areas and knowledge gaps requiring further research.
The Commission hopes that their content will advance discussions around mental health policy and advocacy on a global level. It is actively engaged with relevant organisations such as United for Global Mental Health, the WHO, WONCA, Orygen Australia, Friendship Zimbabwe, and the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States.
The Commission is authored by 25 experts from 11 countries. It is chaired by Helen Herrmann, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Orygen and the Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in Melbourne. Professor Vikram Patel, a member of the WPA’s Standing Committee on Science and Dr Christian Kieling serve as co-chairs.
In addition, people with lived experience of depression were consulted on the recommendations and their dissemination The Commission puts forward recommendations for action by four primary stakeholders: the general community and people with the lived experience of depression; practitioners who are in a position to prevent and treat depression; researchers who lead scientific endeavours to reduce the burden of depression; and decision-makers who design policies and finance their implementation.
The full report can be read here.
In order to help promote the publication, the Lancet team have produced a press release, which can be viewed here.
Finally, do not forget the launch webinar today at 12:00 pm GMT/7:00 am EST. Attendance is free and you can register for the webinar here.
Please share the findings and recommendations of the Commission with your members.
If you wish to promote the Commission on your websites, newsletters and social media channels, please contact Marie Oetker from The Lancet here or us and we can share the Communications Toolbox with your Communications/PR team.
Dr. Afzal Javed
President, WPA
