Non-pharmacological treatments for patients with depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder. People with physical health problems are at increased risk of depression, which adversely affects quality of life, worsens disabilities and is associated with increased mortality. Several treatments are available for people with depression, and these are commonly delivered using a stepped-care or matched and stepped-care model. Structured self-help and guided self-help interventions should be offered when depression is diagnosed. If these treatments are not effective, high-intensity interventions such as face-to-face talking therapies should be offered. Nurses have many existing competencies with which to recognise depression and can treat depression with additional training and supervision.