The term common mental disorders (CMDs) is a broad diagnostic category for non-psychotic, depressive, and anxiety disorders that covers most psychiatric morbidity in the general population. CMDs lead to substantial morbidity worldwide. WHO estimates that depression will be the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years by 2020. Whether the prevalence of CMDs is increasing in industrialised nations3—6 and the extent to which trends in population mental health are reflected by trends in suicide have been debated.