Table 4.

Potential Roles of the Non-Physician Mental Health Workforce in Supporting the Prevention and Management of Depression Among Retirees

Non-Physician Professional	Potential Roles
Nurses (eg, registered nurses, nurse practitioners)	● Screen for depression and assess patients’ needs ● Coordinate depression care between the primary care practice and services ● Deliver depression interventions (eg, home-based care) ● Evaluate treatment effectiveness and adherence ● Educate patients and their families/caregivers on depression, treatments, etc
Psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors	● Serve as clinical case manager (eg, assess patients’ needs, coordinate care, educate patients about depression and/or treatments) ● Offer psychotherapy and behavioral counseling
Allied health professionals (eg, nutritionist, dietician, physical therapist, physician assistants)	● Assist health providers in delivering treatments for depression as well as medical comorbidities ● Offer behavior change lifestyle (eg, diet, exercise, sleep) and mind-body interventions (eg, mindfulness-based techniques, movement therapies)
Community health workers, faith-based counselors	● Partner in community-based interventions (eg, Experience Corps, SilverSneakers) and church-based interventions (eg, faith-based cognitive behavioral therapy)
Family and caregivers	● Play essential role in mental health services engagement (eg, schedule and accompany to medical appointments, de-stigmatize depression) ● Support and monitor treatment responses and adherence ● Engage in depression care decision-making