根據世界衛生組織的報告顯示，基層醫療門診病患中約有24％的人有精神疾病(以ICD-10為診斷標準)，69％的精神疾病患者會以身體疾病作為主訴症狀向醫生求醫，50％的憂鬱症患者未被基層醫療單位診斷出來。世界衛生組織指出抗憂鬱劑及短程、結構式的心理治療對60∼80％至基層醫療診所求診且受憂鬱症困擾的民眾有效，然而卻只有不到25％（有些國家甚至低於10％）的憂鬱症基層求診患者接受到有效的治療，主要原因在於投入資源不足、基層醫療人員缺乏訓練及社會對憂鬱症污名化看法的影響。

出處1：European Region of World Health Organization (2005).Access to Good Primary Care in Mental Health.
出處2：European Region of World Health Organization (2005). What are the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the management of depression in specialist care?
出處3：World Health Organization(2005) http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/

原文1：In a World Health Organization (WHO) study of 15 facilities across the world, the prevalence of mental disorders (as defined in the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases – ICD 10) among consecutive primary care attenders was 24% (2). In addition, people with mental disorders usually present to primary care physicians with physical symptoms. In this study, 69% of patients with mental disorders presented in this way.

原文2：In several countries it has been reported that as many as 50% of depression cases go unrecognized in primary care settings

原文3：

1. Depression can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care.
2. Fewer than 25 % of those affected have access to effective treatments.

Depression can be reliably diagnosed in primary care. Antidepressant medications and brief, structured forms of psychotherapy are effective for 60-80 % of those affected and can be delivered in primary care. However, fewer than 25 % of those affected (in some countries fewer than 10 %) receive such treatments. Barriers to effective care include the lack of resources, lack of trained providers, and the social stigma associated with mental disorders including depression.