• Clip
• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 01 >> Explains how he considers depression a sign he is going to get better.

Treatments have included ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), hospitalisation, talking therapies, lithium and medication. He was on a preventative, low dose of Zoloft (sertraline 100mg/day) due to his wife's death.

• 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 how taking a new antidepressant and doing 'Family Tree Healing' helped her to recover from a depressive episode.

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 29 and under >> Interview 02 >> Was surprised by the way a hypnotherapist helped her to think more positively.

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 30-39 >> Interview 04 >> Describes the varying success he has had with trying to defeat the negative voice in his head. (Played by an actor)

Has responded very well to Prozac (20mg/day) and cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 09 >> Says that you may only be able to tackle small activities when depressed, but you can progress to more difficult tasks, and this can help to bring you

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 04 >> His doctor recommended physical activities, so he took up gardening, even though sceptical, but found that it did help to distract him and fight off n

Has responded very well to Prozac (20mg/day) and cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 03 >> He takes tiredness as a warning sign that his brain needs a rest, so he ensures that he gets more rest. (Played by an actor)

He had sympathetic doctors who took the time to listen. With medication, early retirement, his religious convictions, and the gradual resolution of life stressors, his depression lifted.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 04 >> Has accepted that he will have depression again, he knows the signs of a looming depression, knows what to do, and knows he will recover. (Played by a

Has responded very well to Prozac (20mg/day) and cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 14 >> Experience of many bouts of depression and recovery has led him to accept his depression, and that has made it more manageable.

Has responded well to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. He has the support of his wife and has built his confidence in a local sporting club. He recognises depression as a phase that passes.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 05 >> Antidepressant medication helped him to feel better, but he did not initially recover fully. (Played by an actor)

Has very good care from his GP. Medication was somewhat effective. He recently stopped taking Lithium and Effexor.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 13 >> Tried various careers, including law, which did not suit him; once he left law he started to feel better, and he pursued training in organic gardening

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 28 >> Explains that prayer worked for her over such a long period of time that it could only be understood much later in time.

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 55-64 >> Interview 12 >> Having depression and recovering has made her more empathic with people, more understanding, and has helped her to connect with her son.

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 55-64 >> Interview 21 >> When she comes out of depression, she socialises again and is able to pick up her interests, including horses.

Effective treatments include lithium (400mg/day), day care centre activities (e.g. creative activities), distracting herself from depression, counselling, diet changes and Internet research.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Feels she has been in recovery from a long period of depression, and now feels less isolated and more connected to the world. (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 04 >> For him overcoming depression involved the realisation he was not as different as he thought, and he could develop relationships. (Played by an actor)

Has responded very well to Prozac (20mg/day) and cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 04 >> Urges very depressed people to get medical help without delay because they are not in a position to help themselves. (Played by an actor)

Has responded very well to Prozac (20mg/day) and cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 07 >> Fears further depression, and compares depression recovery with being in remission from cancer. Worries that he may be getting depressed again when he

Used a raft of strategies to recover including time off work, attending a support group, counselling, physical exercise, interaction with nature and pets, and spiritual healing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 17 >> Still struggling with recovery, he finds it difficult to live with his symptoms day-to-day, and is not sure of the purpose of his life.

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 40-54 >> Interview 07 >> Feels under pressure to get better because he feels a burden on his partner and friends, yet feels his partner was very supportive.

Used a raft of strategies to recover including time off work, attending a support group, counselling, physical exercise, interaction with nature and pets, and spiritual healing.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 30 >> She had felt 'stupid' and 'weak' and that her life was over, but her recent recovery has begun to challenge such negative ideas. (Played by an actor)

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 65+ >> Interview 13 >> Feels better at the age of 69 than he has ever felt before, and recalls life was grey from childhood, yet he was actively interested in being healthy

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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Has met someone else with depression who has gone further towards recovery and the experience has been inspirational.

Is now managed by a skilled team in the NHS, which includes long-term therapy. Therapy is addressing her distorted thinking patterns and difficult past. She now understands she can move beyond depression.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Through therapy has discovered why she is unhappy, including feeling at fault for things that go wrong around her, and so can tackle her depression be

Is now managed by a skilled team in the NHS, which includes long-term therapy. Therapy is addressing her distorted thinking patterns and difficult past. She now understands she can move beyond depression.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 09 >> Realised that he would need to have his own values, since the world was fallible. (Played by an actor)

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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Therapy can lead to stepping out of the 'prison of depression' into the unknown, which can be frightening but rewarding.

Is now managed by a skilled team in the NHS, which includes long-term therapy. Therapy is addressing her distorted thinking patterns and difficult past. She now understands she can move beyond depression.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 19 >> While people may be sceptical, there is life after depression, and life can improve.

Has managed to find joy in life through approaches including medication (currently venlafaxine 150mg & chlorpromazine 25mg), counselling, partner support, Christianity and voluntary work (which led to rewarding employment).

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 03 >> Says people with depression should hang on during the worst of depression because things are likely to get better with time.

He had sympathetic doctors who took the time to listen. With medication, early retirement, his religious convictions, and the gradual resolution of life stressors, his depression lifted.