Major depressive disorder is a leading global cause of lifelong disability, with the greatest increase in incidence occurring in mid-to-late adolescence into young adulthood. Onset in childhood predicts poor long-term educational, social and health outcomes. Therefore, interventions to prevent depression in children and adolescents have considerable potential to reduce the global burden of depression. Prior research has suggested that selective and indicated prevention interventions targeted, respectively, at high risk or subsyndromal children and young people may outperform universal interventions that deliver to all individuals in the population.1–3 To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.