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• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Had a difficult childhood and family life, and lost her grandparents in 1996, which was very traumatic because she depended so much on her grandmother

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 26 >> She links her current day anxiety to the unpredictability of her parents arguments and father's violent temper, and her resulting 'fear of what might

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 29 and under >> Interview 15 >> Gets angry with people who complain about relatively minor problems with their families because of the physical abuse she suffered.

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 >> When depressed he thought that his friends and family didn't like him, but therapy helped him to see the distortion of this thinking.

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 65+ >> Interview 03 >> Just before he became depressed he lost family members, there were workplace changes, and members of his family moved back home.

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 10 >> Counselling revealed that his family did not talk about emotions easily, so he talked to his friends rather than his parents about his depression.

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 >> She felt so bad and so cut off from everyone in her family that she felt she was inside a very thick balloon, and contemplated suicide.

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 30-39 >> Interview 37 >> Family therapy helped her family to communicate better, as well helping her to accept that she loved but did not like her family.

Is currently feeling well after a recent rough patch. Helpful approaches have included talking therapies, Prozac (20mg/day), living in a sunnier climate, and exercise.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 17 >> Describes his loneliness and isolation, and feeling cut off from people, especially with no relatives living in his area.

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 23 >> Christmas time brings the absence of family into sharper focus for him; he feels he has somehow failed because he has no partner.

While avoiding medication, helpful approaches have included counselling, self-help books and alternative therapies (e.g. re-birthing). These approaches have helped reduce negative thinking and anxiety.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 06 >> She is unsure how to tell her children about her depression, but may discuss it when they are slightly older.

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 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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Feels she can't tell her family about seeing a psychiatrist as she fears they would see her as weak. (Played by an actor)

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 33 >> Has moved away from his family a few times so he can have his own space and freedom, away from the restrictions of his family life.

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 30-39 >> Interview 37 >> She had relationships with other women, and her mother reacted badly to one of her partners who she took to a family gathering, which was hurtful.

Is currently feeling well after a recent rough patch. Helpful approaches have included talking therapies, Prozac (20mg/day), living in a sunnier climate, and exercise.

• 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 30-39 >> Interview 33 >> Says that counselling helped him to talk about troubling issues, but he was not ready to deal with issues concerning his family and anger.

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 19 >> Therapy helped her to better understand that her family had failed her, rather than being a failure herself.

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 30-39 >> Interview 33 >> Strongly urges people with depression to get help from somewhere because outside help is important, and depression is less stigmatised these days.

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 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 08 >> Argues that people in distress may have more help available to them than they think. (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 05 >> He needed a lot of help when very depressed, and says that friends and family can assist the depressed with practical 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 40-54 >> Interview 06 >> Is much more confident to organise her family life so she can have time for herself to walk in the hills, socialise or take a weekend off from motherl

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 30-39 >> Interview 26 >> Having a child to look after gave her a routine and responsibilities which got her out of bed and active.

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).