Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Dolly - Interview 14

Dolly, a 36 year old writer and author, is of mixed ethnicity (White/Asian), and first experienced psychosis aged 14. She finds Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Buddhism and meditation very useful.

  • Background

    Writer, single. Ethnic background/nationality: Mixed race (White/Asian) (UK born).

  • Age at interview 36
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Devon - Interview 12

    Devon, 49, is married and was born in Jamaica; he came to the UK in 1965. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia aged 22 and depression aged 48. He is a founder member of the organization Sound Minds a user-led music project.

  • Background

    Entertainer, married with 1 adult child and 7 stepchildren. Ethnic background/nationality: Afro-Caribbean (born Jamaica); in UK for 42 years.

  • Age at interview 49
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Lorenz - Interview 11

    Lorenz is a 50 year old Black Afro-Caribbean man who has been in the UK since 1966. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia aged 20 and this is now controlled by the anti-psychotic Aripiprazole (10mg daily) enabling Lorenz to work as a social care assistant.

  • Background

    Social care assistant, married with adult children. Ethnic background/nationality: Black Afro-Caribbean (born in West Indies) in UK for 41 years.

  • Age at interview 50
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Edward - Interview 10

    Edward, 59, was born in Australia and diagnosed with schizophrenia aged 20. A former head teacher, he took early retirement for health reasons and now stacks supermarket shelves. He believes his condition is caused by genetic and environmental factors.

  • Background

    Shelf stacker in retail, divorced with 1 adult child. Ethnic background/nationality: White Welsh Australian (born in Australia, Welsh father).

  • Age at interview 59
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Reena - Interview 07

    Reena, 42, describes herself as Bangladeshi, and came to the UK aged 9. She was diagnosed with depression in her early 30s.

  • Background

    Does voluntary work, married with 3 adult children and four children under 18. Ethnic background/nationality: Bangladeshi (born in Bangladesh); in UK for 33 years.

  • Age at interview 42
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Tariq - Interview 06

    This 21 year old Asian student was diagnosed with manic depression and then schizophrenia. He doesn't think that the mental health system is institutionally racist, saying that he encountered discrimination due to his mental health not his ethnicity.

  • Background

    Full-time student, single with no children. Ethnic background/nationality: Asian (UK born).

  • Age at interview 21
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Ataur - Interview 03

    This 60 year old, Bangladesh-born man moved to Britain in 1964 and developed depression aged 17. He believes a weak mind makes it difficult for him to deal with life's problems and finds talking with friends the best way to manage his depression.

  • Background

    Restaurant owner, married with 6 adult children. Ethnic background/nationality: Asian (born in Bangladesh); in UK for 43 years.

  • Age at interview 60
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Mae - Interview 04

    This 62 year old woman has manic depression and describes herself as mixed race. She enjoys life now and is glad to be alive. She thinks going to groups is important and says black families sometimes push away relatives with mental health problems.

  • Background

    Retired cook, divorced with 2 surviving adult children. Ethnic background/nationality: Mixed race (Black/white) (UK born).

  • Age at interview 62
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Niabingi - Interview 01

    This 42 year old Black, British born woman was diagnosed at the age of 25 with paranoid schizophrenia but disagrees with the paranoid part. She believes that her mental distress was caused by the racism she experienced when growing up.

  • Background

    Active service user; single. Ethnic background/nationality: Black-Caribbean (British born)

  • Age at interview 42
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Judy - Interview 05

    This Black-Caribbean woman was diagnosed with manic depressive psychosis in Jamaica. She says she has not been back to hospital for 6 years because she hasn't stopped taking her medication, even though it makes her extremely drowsy.

  • Background

    Unemployed, married with no children. Ethnic background/nationality: Black-Caribbean (born in Jamaica); in UK for 9 years.

  • Age at interview 52
  • Sex/Gender Female