Understanding where people with depression turn for help and the treatments they receive is essential to improving the proportion of appropriate treatments. The objective of this article is to better understand healthcare utilization and the appropriateness of treatments for individuals with a major depressive episode (MDE) based on the different professionals consulted, using data from a national epidemiological survey of the general population conducted in 2005 (2005 Health Barometer, n = 16,883) by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education. 7.8% of individuals experienced a MDEP during the year. Six out of ten sought care; one-third of them received appropriate treatment (21% of MDEs). Among those who sought care, two-thirds consulted a healthcare professional—representing one-third of MDEs—while the remaining proportion (21.4% of MDEs) used psychotropic medications without reporting that they had consulted a professional for mental health reasons. Almost all consultations were with a "competent professional (PRC)" (34.6% of EDMs). Among PRCs, the most common consultations were with general practitioners (61%, or 21.1% of EDMs), with 38.4% (or 13.3% of EDMs) consulting psychiatrists (PCT) and 27.8% (or 9.6% of EDMs) consulting non-psychiatrist mental health professionals (PNP). The lowest proportions of appropriate treatment are observed among EDMs who report not having consulted a professional. Among those who consulted a PRC, the lowest proportion of appropriate treatments is observed for consulting a GP: 37.2%. The highest proportions are observed for consulting a PCT (65.1%) and, in particular, for consulting both a PCT and a GP (79.7%). The proportions of use for different types of treatment (antidepressants [ATD] and psychotherapy [PT]) vary widely. Among women with EDs, 33.4% used ATDs (of whom 58.4% also used anxiolytics [AXL]). 26.9% used AXL, 7.5% without taking ATD; 10.8% of EDM patients used PT, and 8.1% used both PT and ATD. [author’s abstract]