Caroline O'Reilly
Following the birth of her second child, Caroline O'Reilly (26) lost three stone, felt weepy and uncertain and was unable to cope with her newborn baby. When it all got too much to cope with she took an overdose.
Luckily she was found in time by her husband and now, after a tough battle, is back at work and able to speak publicly about her post-natal depression.
Caroline, from Milltown in Dublin, had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital for a month before her suicide attempt but found it only made her worse.
She ended up in St Camillus's psychiatric ward in St Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, where she got "super support" and, following encouragement from her parents, went back to work after four years.
Caroline's marriage has since broken up, which makes her sad but not depressed. "I don't blame my husband; there was a lot going on. Dr Fiona Johnson at St Vincent's was really a great help. We really need more education here about depression. If I had known about it then things would not have gone as far as they did."
Hilary Kelly
Depression, according to Hilary Kelly, affects your entire life. "Every job you go into, every new boyfriend . . . people don't understand depression and the extent of the damage it can cause."
Hilary got her first bout of depression when she was 16, but it was not diagnosed until two years later. Her symptoms include weepiness, negativity, acute anxiety, enormous effort to get out of bed, loneliness and suicidal thoughts. Hilary, who is on medication, has been well for over a year but it is a constant effort to stay that way.
"People need to realise that it is more than just `a few low days'. Depression is an illness. You learn to put coping skills in place and to recognise the symptoms. Alcohol is a depressant so it is best to stay away from it and it is also important to keep fit."
Hilary is studying applied social studies. When she graduates she wants to work in schools and hospitals with people who have attempted suicide. "Psychiatrists do not have time to counsel these people, just to give them drugs. Depression is a taboo subject and we need to talk about it."