Webinar: Addressing depression in primary health care

Addressing depression in primary health care:

Lessons from the MDD Minds project

Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Time: 13:00 UTC

Registration link: https://eu01web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rb6XRSyXQt-qcg4Zx5zhvw

About the webinar

This session will showcase insights and outcomes from MDD Minds for Primary Care, a global initiative developed by WONCA and Mosaica Solutions. The project has supported nearly 3,000 family doctors and practice teams across nine countries to better diagnose, treat, and manage major depressive disorder (MDD)—particularly in low-resource primary care settings.

Speakers will reflect on how the project was implemented across regions, what lessons were learned, and how it has empowered clinicians to deliver culturally appropriate, person-centred care. The session will also highlight the importance of self-care for healthcare providers, a foundational part of the MDD Minds curriculum.

Moderator

Dr Sankha Randenikumara (Sri Lanka)
Family medicine specialist and Co-Chair of WONCA’s Special Interest Group on Policy Advocacy

Translator

Dr Fabiola Ugarte (Bolivia)
Family medicine specialist, providing English–Spanish interpretation for the session

Speakers

• Professor Christos Lionis (Greece)
  Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health; Professor of Primary Care and Public Health, University of Limassol, Cyprus; Professor Emeritus, University of Crete
• Professor Chris Dowrick (United Kingdom)
  Chair of the MDD Minds project; Emeritus Professor, University of Liverpool; Professorial Research Fellow, University of Melbourne; General practitioner, Aintree Park Group Practice; Past Chair, WONCA Working Party on Mental Health
• Dr Abdullah AlKhathami (Saudi Arabia)
  Master Faculty, MDD Minds; Family medicine specialist and project leader for MDD Minds implementation in Saudi Arabia
• Dr Yazmin Cordova (Peru)
  Family doctor; Master’s degree in community mental health (University of Barcelona); Currently practicing in a substance use disorders clinic in Barcelona, Spain
• Dr Ana Perez Villalva (Mexico)
  Family medicine specialist; High specialist in medical family therapy; Young Doctors Liaison, WONCA Working Party on Mental Health; Master Faculty, MDD Minds Mexico
• Dr Dewanto Andoko (Indonesia)
  Master Faculty, MDD Minds; Resident in the Family Medicine Specialist Program; Research assistant in the Department of Psychiatry

Session outline

• Welcome and introduction – Dr Sankha Randenikumara
• Opening remarks – Prof. Christos Lionis
• Overview of the MDD Minds project – Prof. Chris Dowrick
• Country case studies:
  • Saudi Arabia – Dr Abdullah AlKhathami
  • Peru – Dr Yazmin Cordova
  • Mexico – Dr Ana Perez Villalva
  • Indonesia – Dr Dewanto Andoko
• Closing remarks – Prof. Christos Lionis
• Q&A and discussion – Moderated by Dr Sankha Randenikumara

About MDD Minds

MDD Minds for Primary Care is a three-phase initiative: a self-paced online course (MDD Minds 101), a Train-the-Trainer programme, and a quality improvement initiative known as Performance in Practice. The programme is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese and has been implemented in nine countries across three global regions.

The project promotes not only clinical competence but also clinician wellness—equipping participants with practical tools to care for others while also caring for themselves.