The prevention of depression is an area that deserves attention. Many prevention programs implemented across the lifespan have provided evidence on the reduction of elevated levels of depressive symptoms.
Effective community approaches to prevent depression focus on several actions surrounding the strengthening of protective factors and the reduction of risk factors. Examples of strengthening protective factors include school-based programs targeting cognitive, problem-solving and social skills of children and adolescents as well as exercise programs
for the elderly. Interventions for parents of children with conduct problems aimed at improving parental psycho social well-being by information provision and by training in behavioral childbearing strategies may reduce parental depressive symptoms, with improvements in children’s outcomes.