Managing Depression in Primary Care - Part 1

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Participants • Dr Aoife O'Sullivan, Clinical Lead in Mental Health, Irish College of GPs • Dr Brian Osborne, Assistant Medical Director and Director of Mental Health Programme, Irish College of GPs • Dr John Maher - Host

Summary In this first episode in a two-part series, Dr John Maher is joined by Dr Aoife O'Sullivan and Dr Brian Osborne to discuss the Irish College of GPs’ 2023 Quick Reference Guide (QRG) “Managing Depression in Primary Care.“

Our conversation focuses on the usability of the QRG for GPs in day to day practice. The front page of the guide has a “Jump To” box, with 4 quick links to sections that GPs might need during a consultation: · Talk Therapy Options (Psychotherapy); · Medications; · Switching medications; · Referral to secondary care.

We begin today with a broader conversation that includes: · Depression epidemiology and its burden on individuals and health systems; · The phenomenon of increased mental health presentations by younger people in the primary care setting; · A suggested approach to the consultation; · The potential usefulness of assessment tools.

We then focus on the first of the 4 quick links on the QRG front page, which is non-pharmacological options.

Part 2 of this conversation is also available now in the show feed of your podcast player, and continues with a discussion of the remaining 3 quick links on the QRG front page, before wrapping up with some suggestions for possible audit and practice improvement project opportunities.

Links · Irish College of GPs: Mental Health Clinical Hub · Managing Depression in Primary Care: Quick Reference Guide (Irish College of GPs, June 2023)

Assessment Tools (MDCalc) · Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) · Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) · Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)

Selected services for accessing free/low cost psychotherapy: · Jigsaw (Free support for 12-25yo) · Pieta · Turn2Me · MyMind (up to 6 free sessions of CBT for men over 18yo - as of September 2025) · Textabout.ie (Free text 50808)

See page 7-8 of the Depression QRG for links to numerous additional non-pharmacological services. Disclaimer The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace independent clinical judgment or consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish College of GPs. Listeners are encouraged to review current clinical guidelines, product labelling, and relevant policies before applying any information discussed in this podcast. This podcast does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Healthcare professionals should exercise their own professional judgment in evaluating and applying information to specific clinical situations. Patients or members of the public should seek advice from their own qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment. It may not be possible or appropriate in all circumstances to follow the advice/processes suggested in this podcast, for example due to resource availability. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, medicine is a constantly evolving field, and no guarantee is made regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information presented. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, producers, affiliated organizations and the Irish College of GPs are not liable for any direct or indirect consequences resulting from the use of the information prov