B - Depression and low mood

Age at interview: 19

Brief Outline:

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:

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More about me...

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B says the best way doctors can help is to give her information about all the options available and discussing them together. (Read by an actor).

I think the best form of help is telling you there’s help there, them telling me I can go to them, rather than them telling me, “Oh we want you to do this now,” or “We want you to take this medication. You’re going to be in hospital at this time.” Because now like I’ve got, before the care plan which has been made up for me, but now they include me in making like a care plan like they’ll say, “What do you want to do if you feel depressed? Do you want us to take you to the hospital? Do you want to talk to your, is there a specific person you want to talk to, not just a professional? Do you want to talk to a stranger? Do you want to talk to someone you know?” And sort of just including the person in the care that they’re receiving, is the best thing, rather than just telling them.