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Claire's story: overcoming severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder

I was diagnosed with severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after being raped shortly after my 16th birthday. I have struggled with self-harm ever since, taken numerous overdoses and had many hospital admissions. I had buried the pain so deep inside and felt so ashamed that I despised myself and destroyed my body. In January this year, out of the blue, I received a phone call telling me the person who raped me had been accused again of the same crime on someone else. I decided I had to go forward - I needed to do what I should've done so long ago and I thought it would ease my...

Andrew: Loving someone with depression

Depression is devastating. When someone is experiencing depression, their entire life is blown apart. It can be a massive struggle just to make it through each day. But they aren't the only ones who struggle. Often forgotten are the loved ones of a person with depression. No-one tells them how to cope. They don't know what to do. I would like to try and offer some advice to those people. Knowing somebody you love is struggling with depression leaves you feeling incredibly helpless. You feel if you could say the right thing, or do something special, that maybe you will be able to help them to...

Marie's story: Overcoming Binge Eating

It first started when I was at school when I was 16. I grew up in a quite stressful environment. My parents have always worked really hard running their own business and have quite high standards. Without meaning too, they have always put pressure on my sister and I to be the best at everything we do from a very young age. I felt that I had to be at the top of the class, and whatever marks got, my mum would often ask "why didn't you get more" and "how much did so and so get?" I was very studious and felt that I was constantly letting them down. My mum also experienced depression at that time...

Kelly's story: Overcoming depression

I have suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a teenager. As a teenager I had no idea that I had depression. I kept my feelings of deep sadness, loneliness and the feeling of being worthless to myself for many years. I coped with these feelings by cutting my arms and by keeping a diary of my thoughts. By the time I had reached the end of University I had taken an overdose of tablets which was a cry of desperation. I was hospitalised for the night but chose to discharge myself. It was only at this time that my family and friends began to learn of my illness. Still, I chose to try and...

David: Living with schizophrenia

David talks about his schizophrenia, focusing on relationships, treatments, jobs and future.

Mental health statistics: anxiety

Anxiety is a type of fear usually associated with the thought of a threat or something going wrong in the future, but can also arise from something happening right now.

Mental health statistics: UK and worldwide

Mental health problems are a growing public health concern. They are prevalent not just in the UK, but around the world.

Mental health statistics: the most common mental health problems

Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental health disorder in Britain.

Mental health statistics: men and women

Mental health problems affect both men and women, but not in equal measure.

Mental health statistics: children and young people

We take a life-course approach to mental health because good mental health begins in infancy.