Depression is a common health care problem and is largely managed in primary care, with little or no specialist input from secondary care services. The quality of care is often low, with poor recognition of the condition, inadequate prescription, poor compliance with medication and poor provision and uptake of psychological interventions. Commonly advocated interventions on capacity building of primary health care professionals in the detection, management and outcome of depression include: clinician education, guidelines, collaborative care, case management and stepped care.