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• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 18 >> Says that she fell in love with her best girlfriend and slowly came to terms with her homosexuality with the help of a counsellor.

Became depressed while looking after a friend with depression. Believes Seroxat contributed to her suicide attempt. With counselling and new medication (venlafaxine 150mg/day) she is getting better.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> Her GP dispelled her fears about counselling by explaining what would not happen in counselling, and by matching her with a good counsellor.

With the help of a caring GP, her counsellor, private hospital treatment, Efexor (150mg/day) and self-help books, she was feeling better and is keen to continue her healing and help others. She has written a book: Saving Samantha: A Young Woman's Escape from Childhood Hell (isbn 1401910300) about her experiences.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 10 >> Dissatisfied with his GP, he wrote to his local Primary Care Trust to get a new GP at a new surgery, and was happy that his new GP treated him with re

Helpful approaches include counselling (which has helped him to address past abuse as well as being gay) removed himself from a bullying workplace; settling debts, swimming and moving away from London.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 02 >> The NHS offers no sure path for getting a referral to a talking therapist, and it's easy to fall through the gaps, especially if your income is low.

Effective approaches include medication (currently Efexor 75 mg/day), hypnotherapy and counselling. Was finding it difficult to find therapy in the NHS.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 55-64 >> Interview 12 >> She realised that a counsellor was not skilled enough to recognise her needs, including her suicidal impulses.

Helpful approaches include support from patients in hospital, counselling and medication (Lofepramine). She understands depression as a passing phase and feels she is well past the worst of it.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 20 >> Says that once you are well and can judge, you need to view your sessions with your potential therapist as a relationship, which needs to have trust,

Her recovery initially came about after hospitalisation including Electroconvulsive Therapy. With supportive long-term therapy and medication (Prozac and lithium) she has been in recovery ever since 1989.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Describes what she likes about her counsellor, including her human approach, honesty and the way she challenges her to reach the root of her problems.

With the ongoing care of her GP and ongoing counselling with a skilled practitioner, she has been in recovery since early 2003. Not currently on medication.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 09 >> Liked the therapy approach called 'systemic consultation', which attempted to understand his perspective, it focused on current difficulties and it he

Since 1995 has undergone a recovery which has involved therapy (systemic consultation) as well as learning social skills, engaging in enjoyable activities, and involvement in self-help groups.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 36 >> Choose your counsellor/therapist carefully - you need to be able to trust them so you can be honest. (Played by an actor)

Useful approaches include medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, therapy, hospitalisation, self-help groups. Currently takes Lithium (600mg/day) and citalopram (Cipramil) 20mg/day.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> She felt hurt and rejected when after 6 months of counselling, her counsellor announced flatly that she couldn't see her again. (Played by an actor)

With the ongoing care of her GP and ongoing counselling with a skilled practitioner, she has been in recovery since early 2003. Not currently on medication.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 18 >> She saw a university-based counsellor and was relieved to be able to talk about anything she wanted to an impartial and friendly person; she didn't te

Became depressed while looking after a friend with depression. Believes Seroxat contributed to her suicide attempt. With counselling and new medication (venlafaxine 150mg/day) she is getting better.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> Found herself talking to her counsellor about things she would not talk to friends about, and discovered that she had put on a façade to cope with the

With the help of a caring GP, her counsellor, private hospital treatment, Efexor (150mg/day) and self-help books, she was feeling better and is keen to continue her healing and help others. She has written a book: Saving Samantha: A Young Woman's Escape from Childhood Hell (isbn 1401910300) about her experiences.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 55-64 >> Interview 12 >> Talking about difficult and intimate problems in her life to her counsellor helped her see her issues more positively.

Helpful approaches include support from patients in hospital, counselling and medication (Lofepramine). She understands depression as a passing phase and feels she is well past the worst of it.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 26 >> Says counselling involves a journey and relationship with your practitioner that will one day end, and you will go it alone.

Not currently on medication, has found the best approaches to include counselling, self-help books, alternative therapies, and adopting a more authentic lifestyle (including enjoyable voluntary jobs).