Depressive disorders are highly prevalent in the general population while there are marked diagnostic and therapeutic deficits resulting in direct and socioeconomic costs. Pharmacists represent important community facilitators in primary health care but their role in counselling and monitoring of depressed patients has rarely been investigated.

In order to improve knowledge about depressive disorders and practical skills, nationwide seminars were held for staff members [N=102] of German public pharmacies followed by an evaluation of personal views and seminar.

Personal estimates of proportion of depressed customers reached an extremely wide range from 1-70%. This view and further beliefs (regarding depression as an illness like any other; confidence in counselling) of pharmaceutical staff were correlated with age and years of practise rather than with professional position. Comprehensive education and specific training programmes (e.g. communication skills), especially in the younger and less experienced staff, may promote successful counselling of depressive individuals.

Mental health care systems need to more implement personnel of public pharmacies by training programmes to increase identification and treatment outcome of depression and reduction of health care expenses.