Anxiety and Depression in Primary Care: International Perspectives

This book provides practical information about depression and anxiety in primary care, with a focus on the approach in different countries and incorporating global ranges/prevalence, risk factors and health burden including that associated with COVID-19 and its pandemic. To ensure the challenges of a wide international primary care community are reflected fully, authors from different world regions – Africa, Asia Pacific, East Mediterranean, Europe, IberoAmericana-CIMF, North America and South Asia – have co-contributed to individual chapters on the detection and management of depression and anxiety in primary care in their own countries, including the screening tools used, how widely these tools are adopted and by whom, and current policies. As well as the medical model, it also presents the alternative viewpoint that feeling low or anxious is part of the human condition and the attention should be on supporting people in their journey through life, struggling to deal with the mainly social challenges they meet, rather than defining these problems as disorders or diseases requiring identification and treatment. Key Features: Explores the instruments used for the detection of depression and anxiety in primary care in various countries, and why and how these instruments are being used Describes the pharmaceutical and non-drug interventions for treating depression and anxiety in primary care and compares the similarities and differences in detecting and managing depression and anxiety in primary care among different countries Includes in-depth regional examples of how screening tools are used in practice and how policies can be established in the management of depression and anxiety in primary care Concludes with lessons learned from various countries and from different stakeholders with clear advice on what to do and, importantly, what not to do Addressing primary care detection and management of mental health issues across the globe, the book will be an invaluable practical aid for family medicine practitioners and the wider primary and community care teams and a useful reference for those involved in policy setting at regional and national levels including ministries of health.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Karen Flegg. Preface. Editors. Contributors. Global perspective on depression and anxiety. Alternative approaches to the 'diagnose and treat' model of care. Assessment for depression and anxiety in primary care. The case for and against screening. Tools used for assessing and screening for depression and anxiety in primary care. Depression and anxiety in primary care in Africa. Depression and anxiety in Ethiopia. Depression and anxiety in Ghana. Depression and anxiety in Nigeria. Depression and anxiety in South Africa. Depression and anxiety in primary care in Asia Pacific. Depression and anxiety in Australia. Depression and anxiety in Hong Kong, SAR. Depression and anxiety in Malaysia. Depression and anxiety in primary care in the East Mediterranean. Anxiety and depression in Egypt. Depression and anxiety in Tunisia. Depression and anxiety in primary care in Europe. Depression and anxiety in Greece. Depression and anxiety in Luxembourg. Depression and anxiety in Türkiye. Depression and anxiety in the United Kingdom. Depression and anxiety in primary care in Ibero-Americana. Depression and anxiety in Argentina. Depression and anxiety in Brazil. Depression and anxiety in Ecuador. Depression and anxiety in primary care in North America. Depression and anxiety in Canada. Depression and anxiety in the United States of America. Depression and anxiety in primary care in South Asia. Depression and anxiety in Nepal. Depression and anxiety in Pakistan. Depression and anxiety in migrant, refugee and war-zone populations. S creening of migrants in Canada. Mental health screening of Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and other refugees awaiting migration from Türkiye to the United States. Mental health disorders, anxiety and depression in Ukrainians associated with war and migration. Interventions for treating depression and anxiety in primary care. ‘Watchful waiting’ – a powerful approach. Psychotherapeutic interventions for depression and anxiety in primary care. Use of pharmaceutical interventions for primary care management of depression and anxiety. Improving practice. Nice guidelines on depression and anxiety. A team approach to health and well-being in primary care - the Aotearoa (New Zealand) example. Integrating physical and mental health services in primary care. Conclusion. Index.