Profiles

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



Loz - Interview 01

Loz is 17 and lives at home with his family. He's experienced depression and anxiety since he had an accident and ended up in a wheelchair at the age of 14. Over the years, having a great counsellor and close support from his family has helped him the most. (White British)

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 17
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Sian - Interview 12

    Sian is 18 and living independently in supported housing. At a young age, she developed an eating disorder and has also experienced depression and self-harming. Sian was put in care where she lived for a few years. During a stay in a psychiatric unit Sian met two girls who've become very close friends since. Sian says getting better is a long process where you have to want to be helped. (White British).

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 18
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Francesca - Interview 13

    Francesca started experiencing depression when she was about 10 ' she was badly bullied in school and a young carer. Francesca starting doing solvents and other forms of self-harm and has also been suicidal. She's also been hearing negative voices. When she stayed in a psychiatric unit, she met 2 girls who've been really close friends since. Francesca says she can't understand people who criticise those who have mental health problems. (White British).

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 19
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Emma - Interview 14

    Emma is 21 and in her 2nd year at university. She was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when she was about 2. She's experienced depression on and off since she was 13. Emma hasn't been given a diagnosis for depression but would like to see a doctor to find out more. Her hobbies - music, computer games and societies ' and talking to her girlfriend or her mum help her feel better. (White British).

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 21
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Ruby - Interview 15

    Ruby is 27. She's experienced bulimia, depression and other mental health problems since she was about 12. For years, she also had a problem with alcohol. Ruby says the most important thing for her was to speak up until she was listened to, and taken seriously. (White British).

  • Background

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  • Age at interview 27
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Craig - Interview 16

    Craig is 20. He's experienced depression since he was about 12. He was bullied school and he lost many of his close relatives in a short space of time. For Craig, medication, keeping his body and mind active, his girlfriend and mates have been the biggest help. He says people should be more open about depression and treat it as any other illness. (White British).

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 20
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Sara - Interview 17

    Sara is 20 and fulltime university student. She's been experiencing mental health difficulties over the past eight years but more so after she started university. She sees a counsellor weekly which has helped her, and she also says having a few different coping strategies, like keeping a diary or doing exercise helps her. It's been difficult for Sara to talk about her problems with her family as she says the 'concept of mental health doesn't exist in South Asian culture'. (Pakistani).

  • Background

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  • Age at interview 20
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Holly - Interview 18

    Holly is 18 and studying at college. Around the age of 12 things started going wrong for Holly; she was missing school and having behavioural problems. Home life was also difficult as her parents were going through a difficult divorce. Holly was referred to CAMHS for counselling and later on also spent a month on a ward. Since then Holly's felt much better and stronger to go back to college and is now able to plan ahead into the future. (White British).

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 18
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • B - Interview 19

    B is 19 and in college. When she was younger she experienced abuse and she also lost several close family members at a young age. B had a difficult journey to deal with the problems, she was hospitalised several times and she attempted suicide a few times. B says her life turned when she made a decision to want to accept the help and do something with her life. She's now looking forward to future and expecting a baby. (Zambia).

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 19
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Luke - Interview 20

    Luke is 17 and works fulltime. He started using recreational drug use of cannabis, magic mushrooms and cocaine as a form of 'escape'. His drug taking and alcohol gradually increased and made his depression worse. Luke stopped taking drugs by making a conscious decision and has been clean ever since. He feels that cannabis can easily lead into heavier drugs. Luke's life is back on track now and he enjoys travelling and spending time with his girlfriend. He is also on antidepressants.

  • Background

    See ‘Brief outline’

  • Age at interview 17
  • Sex/Gender Male