6 episodes

“You just want to step out of it, to step out of the whole race, the whole business. The monstrosity of life overwhelms you.” Following a nervous breakdown in 1995, actor and journalist Stephen Fry discovered he was suffering from bi-polar disorder – commonly known as manic depression. Symptoms of fear and sadness (often classed as ‘anxiety’ and ‘depression’ if they are diagnosed) are the most common ‘mental disorders’ in Britain that people seek counselling for. This collection of videos looks at what can happen when people are overwhelmed by such profound feelings of sadness that they can’t carry on with their everyday lives. Fry, along with Trisha Goddard and engineer Jim Brown, share their personal struggles and experiences with diagnosis and drug use, giving us a glimpse into the journeys they have taken.

This material forms part of The Open University course D240 Counselling: exploring fear and sadness

'The Secret life...' footage appears courtesy of RTF and BBC.

Coping with Depression - for iPod/iPhone The Open University

- Education
- 4.0 • 13 Ratings

- OCT 10, 2010
- video
Coping with Depression

Coping with Depression

Stephen Fry, Trisha Goddard and Jim Brown share their experiences with anxiety and depression.
- 21 min
- OCT 10, 2010
Transcript -- Coping with Depression

Transcript -- Coping with Depression

Stephen Fry, Trisha Goddard and Jim Brown share their experiences with anxiety and depression.
- OCT 10, 2010
- video
Depression: diagnosis and stigma

Depression: diagnosis and stigma

A look at being diagnosed with a mental illness.
- 8 min
- OCT 10, 2010
Transcript -- Depression: diagnosis and stigma

Transcript -- Depression: diagnosis and stigma

A look at being diagnosed with a mental illness.
- OCT 10, 2010
- video
Depression and drug use

Depression and drug use

Several people share their experiences of prescribed and recreational drugs.
- 7 min
- OCT 10, 2010
Transcript -- Depression and drug use

Transcript -- Depression and drug use

Several people share their experiences of prescribed and recreational drugs.

4.0 out of 5

13 Ratings

Beautifully done

A gentle and short film providing a real inside glimpse to depression. It touches on to recognize it, options for dealing with it, and when you know you have it under control. Well done!

Review of first 27 minute video on Depression

It's realistic. I've been both a depression sufferer in the past and am now a mental health therapist. I plan to show this at the start of our next group . Variety of individuals and their clear abilities to communicate comfortably on video add to the quality of the message delivery. I like it's "quietness" , peaceful pace. It touched on key recovery issues well, providing a sense of quiet hope in recognizing and dealing with depression, anxiety, and also challenges such as bipolar disorder. Thank You for kindly providing this piece.