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General Practice

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• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 05 >> Managed to hide his depression at work, but when he could no longer read a story to his daughter he knew he needed help. (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 30-39 >> Interview 11 >> She thought negatively when depressed, and her mind jumped to negative conclusions, and she felt like others were talking about her.

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 33 >> Severe depression is more serious than physical illness because the mind is ill, and because depression can be invisible, it is hard for people to sup

Has not used medication and is not happy with his GP. Nevertheless, he has accessed talking therapies which have helped somewhat. He also moved away from his family.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 07 >> It took him about 6 months to accept that he had depression and to be able to tell his GP about it.

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 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> As a 14 year old her suicide attempt frightened her enough to visit her GP, who diagnosed depression.

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 08 >> GP rings up to encourage her to make and attend a GP appointment when she is depressed, as well as to come at the beginning of any depression crisis.

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 02 >> Felt she was patronised and not listened to by GPs until they realised that she had attended an elite university.

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 17 >> His GP has demonstrated she understands how he feels, even though his dad does not.

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 06 >> Wanted her GP (who was also a friend) to notice her problem, but was worried that if she told him how she was feeling he might judge her badly.

Has responded very well to Prozac (currently 20 mg) and cognitive behavioural therapy, and feels she should be on an antidepressant permanently to correct a chemical imbalance.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 18 >> Describes how she feels uncomfortable with the caring attention from her GP and so forgets things. (Played by an actor)

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 30-39 >> Interview 05 >> Says he did not like taking lithium because it stopped him doing things he enjoyed, and so he decided to slowly come off lithium with his doctors know

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

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 03 >> Explains that some members of support groups report 'pockets' where doctors are not very sympathetic to depression. (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 26 >> Suggests that people could bring someone else along to GP consultations, or write important things down first, since it can be difficult to communicat

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).

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Explains how she presented to her GP with minor ailments, felt she was wasting his time, and was not given a clear explanation of her depression. (Pla

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 >> She had not known that her doctor had treated her for depression in the past, nor that anxiety was closely linked with depression.

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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Her GP knew he did not have the skills to manage her and referred her to a psychiatric team. They understood and could help.

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 65+ >> Interview 01 >> Although he denied being depressed, he was referred to a psychiatrist who understood how he felt, which was a great relief to him.

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 55-64 >> Interview 28 >> Did not like her consultant psychiatrist who did not seem to listen to her complaints about medication, and she was cynical about the influence of dru

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 40-54 >> Interview 30 >> Finds that when she needs help, she can rely on her mental health team, including her doctor, psychiatrist and CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse).

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 01 >> He lost his faith in psychiatrists when his hair fell out. His psychiatrist initially said it was to do with stress, but later said it was due to too

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 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> After ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), she has no memory of specific time periods, and her doctors deny that the ECT caused her problems. She is angry

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 06 >> When her GP suggested she come off Prozac (fluoxetine) after 2 years, she became depressed again. She worries that she might have to argue her case ag

Has responded very well to Prozac (currently 20 mg) and cognitive behavioural therapy, and feels she should be on an antidepressant permanently to correct a chemical imbalance.

• 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 40-54 >> Interview 06 >> She told her friend about a suicide attempt, and her friend took her straight to her GP for help.

Has responded very well to Prozac (currently 20 mg) and cognitive behavioural therapy, and feels she should be on an antidepressant permanently to correct a chemical imbalance.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> Was pleasantly surprised by her welcome at a private 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.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 32 >> Says that there is little information about depression in her doctor's surgery, but she can gather some information from women's magazines. (Played by

Feels her GP is excellent, but decided against medication. She has gained confidence over the years, and has benefited from NHS counselling, but is having trouble accessing further counselling.

• 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 40-54 >> Interview 19 >> Advises those who are not responding to medication to ask for a different medication or for referral to a psychiatrist.

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).