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• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 55-64 >> Interview 12 >> Describes a negative and frightening experience of an NHS hospital in the 1970s.

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 65+ >> Interview 13 >> Was restless in hospital, and remembers that he felt such self-hatred that he feared he would contaminate others, or that they could tell how horrible

Has only recent seen himself as getting better, being helped by therapy (eg. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt), a clairvoyant therapist/doctor, the learning of meditation techniques, and medication (Effexor 75mg, Lithium (400mg/day).

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 55-64 >> Interview 12 >> Says that had the seriousness of her depression been recognised earlier, and she had had support, it would have made a difference to her life.

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 17 >> Saw psychiatrists in London after dissatisfaction with local psychiatrists, who ruled out schizophrenia and manic-depression.

Current medication includes Seroxat, Zyperxa (olanzapine), Lamactil (lamatrigine). Is grappling with building friendships and what he wants to do in life. He has found one kinesiologist in particular to be very helpful.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 36 >> Felt misunderstood by his psychiatrist who assumed he had something like 'schizophrenia', and asked him strange questions.

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 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> Found it difficult to cope back in the community after being in hospital and had panic attacks, and a CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse) helped her to

Her main helpful approaches include hospitalisation, various therapies (including art therapy), Citalopram (40mg/day), reduction in work hours, Christian prayer and diary writing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> Believes there is an over emphasis on medication for sedation in the NHS hospital she went to.

Her main helpful approaches include hospitalisation, various therapies (including art therapy), Citalopram (40mg/day), reduction in work hours, Christian prayer and diary writing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> Says that Efexor was the best drug she had ever taken, with better effects and fewer side effects.

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 40-54 >> Interview 30 >> Though her friends did well on lithium, she became suicidal and very paranoid before she stopped the lithium.

Has supportive health professionals. She reacted badly to lithium, and is now doing much better on her current medication (currently Quetiapine 200mg/day, Amitriptyline 50mg, Carbamazepine 200mg, Atenolol 25 mg, Raberazole 20mg).

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 20 >> While she was unable to give consent to ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) in hospital, her recovery from depression was dramatic.

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 55-64 >> Interview 28 >> Describes an experience of sexual misconduct by a member of staff at a hospital over 20 years ago.

Multiple severe bouts of depression/ 'euphoria', most recently in 95. Has been hospitalised and had Electroconvulsive Therapy. Most helpful approaches include the drug venlafaxine (75mg/day), music, poetry and spiritual healing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Explains that while some staff do care and you can feel safe in NHS hospitals, staff can appear disengaged. (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 30-39 >> Interview 11 >> Did not like the NHS hospital she went into when she could not get into a private hospital.

Hospitalised, but experienced poor service in the NHS. Helpful approaches included the contraceptive pill (acts as a mood stabiliser for her), good GP support, private hospitalisation, and HomeStart help in the home.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Describes how she became institutionalised in an NHS hospital by the routines and safety, making it hard to readjust to the real world. (Played by an

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 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> Says that while some nurses did care in her NHS hospital, there was more care that felt genuine and available in the private system.

Her main helpful approaches include hospitalisation, various therapies (including art therapy), Citalopram (40mg/day), reduction in work hours, Christian prayer and diary writing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 18 >> Describes a suicide attempt where the surgeon was keen for her to tell at least one parent about the true reason she was in hospital.

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 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> Wrote a poem called 'Time' in hospital to express her experiences of working and living in a hectic world, which others have related to.

Her main helpful approaches include hospitalisation, various therapies (including art therapy), Citalopram (40mg/day), reduction in work hours, Christian prayer and diary writing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> Says depression helps you to put your life in perspective. She still finds it hard to relax, but has started to enjoy observing nature.

Her main helpful approaches include hospitalisation, various therapies (including art therapy), Citalopram (40mg/day), reduction in work hours, Christian prayer and diary writing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 35 >> Her tutor had to be told about her suicide attempt and was sympathetic - many students had mental health problems.

Multiple severe bouts requiring hospitalisation at times. Most helpful approaches include medication (currently depacote 1000mg/day, Efexor 75mg/day), fish oils, talking therapies, social support and cranio-sacral massage.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> To stop rumours before they started, she told work colleagues she had been in a psychiatric hospital.

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.