While studies show that psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy can be effective in alleviating depressive symptoms, there remain several barriers to accessing these forms of treatment.

-Many people with depressive symptoms often do not seek out help -Health care systems fail to marshal sufficient number of qualified therapists to offer psychological interventions. -limited availability of trained clinicians -high cost of treatment -fear of stigmatization

As a result, many people who suffer from depressive symptoms remain untreated