Depression is one of the most prevalent, disabling, and costly mental health conditions in the United States, with lifetime prevalence estimates of 11.7% among adolescents1 and 16.6% among adults.2 It is projected to be the leading cause of disease burden worldwide by 2030.3 Although the impact of depression can be minimized or prevented through early detection, treatment, and ongoing care, numerous individual and structural barriers, including stigma, lack of health insurance, and other barriers to accessing mental health services, prevent many from seeking help. Indeed, only slightly more than half of all people who experience depression seek treatment and those who do tend to dropout prematurely or receive poor quality care.4,5 Existing treatments for depression are also modestly effective; only about one-fifth of adults receiving cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy alone6 and one-third of adults receiving antidepressant medication alone7,8 will experience remission after an initial course of treatment. In children and adolescents, the efficacy of existing treatments is also limited.9-11 Moreover, nearly three-quarters of people with depression will experience a relapse at some point in their life.12 These findings underscore the urgent need to prioritize prevention, alongside treatment.
