Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.
Colin was 19 when he started getting 'strange thoughts and 'slight paranoia'. Since then he has had a handful of admissions to hospital, and has had varied experience of medication. He is now living in a flat, doing creative writing and is looking at doing some courses.
Colin is currently unemployed, living in a flat, is single with no children. Ethnic Background’ White Scottish.
David was in a 'right state' when his family called the psychiatrists and was admitted to hospital. Over the next five years he had eight admissions to hospital. He was out of hospital for 11 years, then had 3 admissions over 1.5 years. He has since done acting, comedy nights, compering, and gardening.
David is training to be a counsellor, is single and has one child. Ethnic background’ White Irish.
Robert had a 'normal' childhood, but his father died when he was 15. Later, he started using methamphetamine, which damaged his mental health, and he started hearing voices and sleeping on the streets. He now lives in the South West with his partner who supports him.
Robert used to be a labourer, is living with his partner and had one child Ethnic background’ White English
Nada had her first 'breakdown' in her first year of university. During her finals she became depressed (after a relationship breakdown), thought that horrible events were going to happen, and eventually was taken to hospital. Since then, she has had another admission to hospital, but is now doing voluntary work, enjoys music and going out dancing.
Nada does voluntary work, is single and has no children. Ethnic background’ British Indian
Naveed thought that he wasn't how 'youngsters were supposed to be' and saw his first hallucination when he was 5. When he was 16 he was told he had 'mental health problems and had a breakdown in 2002 during which he couldn't leave the room for 18 months. Now he does extensive volunteering, and lives with his wife and two children.
Naveed is a volunteer, and is married with two children. Ethnic background’ British Pakistani.
Devon was always into music from a young age, but when in a successful reggae band he had a breakdown, was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Music gave him hope, and eventually he founded the highly successful music project 'Sound Minds in South London
Chair of Sound Minds, musician and actor, married with one child, 23. Ethnic background African-Caribbean
After a long period of things not being 'quite right', Tom went from being a 'model student' to a 'bad student'. Much later, he started hearing voices and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He is now taking sulpiride and doing lots of music and painting and wants to make films.
Tom is an artist and musician, single and has no children. Ethnic background’ White English
Andrew had a 'normal' childhood but lost his leg in an accident aged 17. Later, he was admitted to psychiatric hospital aged 23. He became a 'revolving door' patient over the next 18 years and was homeless for some of that time. Now he has an MA, is involved in the user movement and enjoys playing guitar.
Andrew is unemployed, works with the service user movements, single with no children. Ethnic background’ White British
In her teens Cat thought people were laughing at her, and later in her 20s was referred to a psychiatrist. She felt people were 'whispering' and 'plotting'. Cat has been admitted to hospital twice as a voluntary patient. Now she lives in a flat, does evening classes and has a support worker to help in practical ways.
Cat is Unemployed, single and has no children. Ethnic background’ White English.
Annie had a 'normal' life before becoming unwell in her teens. She was admitted to hospital at 18 and diagnosed with cerebral lupus at 24. She finds the stigma and experience similar to others with severe mental illness. She is now doing graduate studies.
Annie is a student, single and has no children. Ethnic background’ White British.
