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• 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 65+ >> Interview 01 >> He 'swallowed his tongue' during ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) and had to try to alert the anaesthetists, and lost memory of a holiday and work prac

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 11 >> Did not like ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), felt frightened and confused, and when she tried to exchange contact details with another patient who ha

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 29 and under >> Interview 02 >> Stopping her Efexor resulted in a lurching sensation in her head, electric shock sensations in her hands and tip of the nose, as well as mood swings a

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 65+ >> Interview 01 >> He 'swallowed his tongue' during ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) and had to try to alert the anaesthetists, and lost memory of a holiday and work prac

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 30-39 >> Interview 11 >> Did not like ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), felt frightened and confused, and when she tried to exchange contact details with another patient who ha

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 >> 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 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Says that it is important to educate yourself through the Internet and books about treatments because professionals have a different agenda from patie

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 >> Was pleased to discover that members of his support group were sensitive, intelligent and sympathetic to his rejection of the values of consumerist so

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 09 >> Lowering expectations can be a way of feeling better about yourself.

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 05 >> Explains how he became suicidal while on antidepressant medication. (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 09 >> Talks about how his academic research into depression led to useful information, such as how his rumination lead to negative thinking. (Played by an a

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 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 09 >> His mother died, he was bullied, was neglected, isolated, lacked social skills, and he was fixated on a woman, hoping he could be rescued.

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 27 >> She loved her work and was a perfectionist, but after redundancies at work she was doing additional work and then she became depressed.

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 11 >> Depression made her question her priorities. She was glad she left her work in her 30s rather than later.

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 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 55-64 >> Interview 31 >> Says that The Sun newspaper got lots of complaints when it described the boxer Frank Bruno as 'bonkers'.

Avoided medication but found help at a mental health 'drop in' centre. He became better informed and used creativity (e.g. computer art and music) to help his recovery.

• 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 65+ >> Interview 13 >> St John's Wort helped his depression, but he cautions about the side-effect of increased light sensitivity.

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 30-39 >> Interview 35 >> She feels Cranio-sacral therapy helped her to relax and get over a cold, as well as reduced the effects of stopping medication.

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 65+ >> Interview 03 >> A self-help group discussed concerns about St John's Wort. (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 40-54 >> Interview 30 >> Says that people can sometimes take discussions of personal experiences out of context in support groups. (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 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 29 and under >> Interview 18 >> After starting Seroxat (paroxetine), found she was 'sleeping too much', felt dazed, had 'head shocks' and visual hallucinations. (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 29 and under >> Interview 02 >> While the initial side effects of Efexor (venlafaxine) seemed severe, they settled down, and even though she put on weight, the benefits outweighed th

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 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 29 and under >> Interview 18 >> Believes Seroxat contributed to her suicide attempt. With counselling and new medication (venlafaxine 150mg/day) she was getting better. (Played by an

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 02 >> Stopping her Efexor resulted in a lurching sensation in her head, electric shock sensations in her hands and tip of the nose, as well as mood swings a

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 33 >> Is for various reasons reluctant to take an antidepressant; once started a course, but did not go on long enough for it to work.

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 22 >> Felt numbed by Lustral (sertraline) and stopped taking her tablets, but suffered strange withdrawal symptoms, and so re-started her medication. (Playe

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 55-64 >> Interview 21 >> Was well informed about lithium side effects, and was willing to take lithium to avoid depression again even though she is against long-term medicatio

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 65+ >> Interview 13 >> He tends to become depressed when he tries to come off lithium, although his last depression wasn't so bad, so he feels more in control of his depress

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 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 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).