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• 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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).