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• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 04 >> He initially thought therapy was for the mad upper classes and anorexic girls, but then found he liked therapy, expressed his deep emotional pain, a

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

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 14 >> Describes getting excellent care at an NHS hospital outpatient clinic.

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 65+ >> Interview 13 >> Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) helped him focus his thoughts on his successes, however small, rather than his failures.

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 13 >> Describes getting helpful treatment and partaking in beneficial activities in an NHS hospital.

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 06 >> Discusses how a therapist helped her to see that she might not be at fault if an acquaintance ignored her.

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 >> Explains she learnt how to better deal with the 'chatter box' in her head through reading a cognitive behaviour therapy style book.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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• Mental health >> Depression >> Talking therapies - experiences of talking therapy >> Talking therapies - experiences of talking therapy

Talking therapies - Experiencing therapy

• 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 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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Was surprised when her therapist told her she needed to be more stable on medication and have more social support before she was ready for therapy. (P

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 24 >> She felt lucky to get long-term therapy on the NHS, since the lack of resources means that so many needy people miss out.

Helpful approaches have included medication, self-help books and tapes, and personal development courses. Received long term therapy on the NHS. Recently discovered she had dyslexia, explaining many of her difficulties.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Her therapist told her she needed to be more stable on medication and have more social support around her before she was ready for therapy. (Played by

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 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 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 09 >> A social worker visited his home and helped his father to better understand depression, as well as helping him to talk issues through.

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 >> 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 40-54 >> Interview 20 >> Says that parents can be part of the problem in depression, and just as they can be abusive, they can be too supportive in insulating you from the rea

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 24 >> It took until she was 19 to be diagnosed with depression. Yet she has come to the conclusion that she was suffering from depression as a child.

Helpful approaches have included medication, self-help books and tapes, and personal development courses. Received long term therapy on the NHS. Recently discovered she had dyslexia, explaining many of her difficulties.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 04 >> He initially thought therapy was for the mad upper classes and anorexic girls, but then found he liked therapy, expressed his deep emotional pain, a

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

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> Says that praying is like talking to someone who already knows you well, and that no formal prayer is needed.

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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Her therapist told her she needed to be more stable on medication and have more social support around her before she was ready for therapy. (Played by

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 07 >> An English acquaintance was surprised he was having psychoanalysis, but in Brazil seeing a therapist and talking about feelings is commonplace.

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 22 >> Therapy can involve a long and meaningful relationship where you work on highly personal issues, and that requires a trustworthy and skilful therapist

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 29 and under >> Interview 02 >> The curative effect of Efexor (venlafaxine) was her proof she had a brain chemical imbalance, although she believed she needed therapy to deal with le

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 40-54 >> Interview 22 >> Was surprised when her therapist told her she needed to be more stable on medication and have more social support before she was ready for therapy. (P

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 08 >> Even though she has been labelled as 'psychotic', she feels less ashamed after therapy, and believes it has taken great courage to discover herself an

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 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 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 20 >> Says that once you are well and can judge, you need to view your sessions with your potential therapist as a relationship, which needs to have trust,

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 40-54 >> Interview 27 >> It takes time to know if you can trust a therapist and divulge sensitive information, but you can know if you feel comfortable with them on the first

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 26 >> Argues that although talking therapies are costly if you go private, talking therapies are valuable and well worth the cost in terms of getting more o

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 27 >> In therapy she could talk to a stranger about issues she had never discussed, and work out what was at the root of her problems.

Her main helpful approaches include hospitalisation, various therapies (including art therapy), Citalopram (40mg/day), reduction in work hours, Christian prayer and diary writing.