Greg has three episodes of depression where he has taken antidepressants. He didn't respond well to fluoxetine, but found citalopram was more effective at improving his mood, although he experienced side effects with both. He feels it can be difficult to know whether improvements in mood can be attributed to the drug itself and how much the passing of time and changing circumstances have played a part. He sees antidepressants as a useful crutch to help you get back on your feet, but doesn't feel they are a long-term solution.

Melanie struggled with some difficult life events for some time before finally seeking help from her GP. She was offered counselling but there was a waiting list. In the meantime she was prescribed fluoxetine and at the time of interview had been taking it for around 4 months.

Steve has experienced bouts of depression since his teens but didn't acknowledge it or seek help until recently. Over the past 10 years he has sometimes used alcohol and/or drugs to try to mask the problem, but has reached a point in his life when he would like to get things more under control. He was prescribed citalopram two months prior to the interview, and is on a waiting list for counselling.

Lucy experienced depression for the first time when she was 15. Although she got help and was prescribed Prozac (fluoxetine) she found it was difficult as an adolescent to be able to have a say in her treatment. When she began university she experienced another episode of depression, and this time found that the university doctors were far more open and understanding. She was prescribed citalopram which worked much better for her, and continues to take it on an ongoing basis.

Sharon was diagnosed with post- natal depression after the birth of her second child. Since then she has experienced episodes of depression periodically and has tried a number of different antidepressants. She currently takes Prozac (fluoxetine) and feels it helps keep her mood stable, although she now also finds other ways to cope with difficult times.

Emily broke down at work one day, which she found enormously embarrassing. She went straight to her GP and was diagnosed with depression. She was prescribed citalopram, and also had counselling through a scheme at work. She took citalopram for about a year. Since that time, she feels her life has changed for the better.

Roisin had experienced depression since she was very young but it wasn't until some months after she gave birth to her daughter that she went to the GP for help. At the time she felt she wasn't taken seriously enough and the various antidepressants she was prescribed didn't work for her. Eventually she referred herself to a psychiatric hospital and finally found an antidepressant that suited her and helped her recover.

Rachel has suffered from depression since she was a child although she didn't seek help until she was around 20. She has been prescribed numerous antidepressants over the years but has found it difficult to cope with side effects and says that antidepressants take away her motivation and vitality.

Caroline took antidepressants during two periods of her life when she became clinically depressed, but came off them when her mood had stabilised and her GP advised her to stop taking them. When she experienced a third episode of depression her doctor prescribed citalopram which she has taken on an ongoing basis ever since. She finds this keeps her mood stable, and is happy to continue taking them for the rest of her life rather than become depressed again.

Andrew had been feeling out of sorts for a couple of years losing interest in things he used to enjoy and finding life increasingly difficult, before he saw the doctor who diagnosed depression and recommended taking citalopram alongside having a course of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). It took about six weeks to begin to take effect, but he found that the medication helped him enormously and he now finds life enjoyable again. He is still taking citalopram and has no plans to stop at the present time, although he says when he is ready he will talk to his GP about how long to continue taking it for.