INTRODUCTION: The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of mental health in the overall population, with special emphasis on depressive disorders. The introductory chapter describes mental health as an inseparable part of general health which reflects the balance between the individual and the environment. Following the initial data on mental health depression is described as a separate mental illness. Depression as a mental disorder is characterized by bad mood, low self-esteem and loss of interest in once pleasurable activities. In addition to the basic division and data on the incidence and prevalence of depression. Clinical picture is also describe, connection to suicide, therapy and prognosis. RESULTS: The results are presented as numerical data on hospitalization due to mental illness, especially depression, as well as the proportion of specific mental illnesses in the number of hospitalizations due to disturbed mental health by gender for Croatia. Presented are data on suicides as one of the measures of mental health disorders. DISCUSSION: The discussion analyzed data collected in the results related to mental health, depression and suicide. Special attention is paid to the burden on the health system due to treatment and care for people with mental and depressive disorders, the protection and promotion of mental health and the role of nurses in it’s promotion. CONCLUSION: Given the rise in the number of patients with depressive disorders in our country and the world, a growing number of elder population, older women, and complex ways of long-term therapy of this and other mental illnesses, promotion and preservation of mental health deserve even greater attention in all structures of society in order to enhance the participation of the community and each pearson to improve their health care, which will result in lower health care costs, and higher quality of life of future generations.