Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). More than 300 million people suffer from depression and they frequently face marginalisation because it is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

For those living in poverty, suffering from depression can trap them in a cycle that is almost impossible to break free from without help. Many find it hard to connect with family members or neighbours and can be isolated from society, making depressive symptoms worse.

Depression doesn’t only affect those with the disease, it also means large costs to an economy. The OECD estimates that 15 percent of the working-age population suffers from a mental illness like depression and that it can cost a country more than four percent of its GDP.

This is ascribed to the cost of treatment and to productivity loss. Poverty and economic difficulties worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression, and anxiety and depression lead to poverty and economic difficulties. It's hard to work when you're depressed, let alone landing a job. It's a vicious cycle.

Adding to the cycle, those suffering from depression often find it very hard to focus, make decisions, and plan for the future. This means they often can't take advantage of aid offered from development interventions.

Billions of dollars are spent every year on interventions aimed at teaching people a new skill, improving education, or preventing malaria but the help is not reaching nearly as many people as it could because of untreated and unrecognised depression.