I'm sure their could be under reporting of depression within our population, but it would be extremely naive to think that "fake" depression is not also under reported. Unfortunately, human nature is to take advantage of anything that could could possibly give us a bit of a "leg up" in certain situations. Fake depression will be used as a tool by many people on a daily basis in this country, it's just the way society works. As depression becomes more widely diagnosed, a number of those diagnosed, possibly growing, will be bogus. I've known more than a handful of people feign depression, to receive enhanced redundancy payments, to receive a smaller prison sentence, and some to just make their lives generally easier for themselves. I've also lost friends to suicide, and have wider family members that are diagnosed and medicated for depression. Depression is a terrible thing to suffer, but also it has become more acceptable to "adopt" the condition when it suits certain people's circumstances.

Which completely misses the point that there is a massive stigma attached to mental health...we're in catch-22 (the book) and one flew over a cukoos nest territory here - to fake depression you'd probably need to have a mental health issue!

Aside from the vocal minority, there are some really inspiration posts on here.

My father is bi-polar (and has been basically for all my life) and I've recently admitted to myself/been diagnosed with depression. Thankfully I have a really good gp (my dad on the other hand doesn't).

It's and the stigma/perceived stigma is huge. Literally the only people that know about my diagnosis (about 6mths in) are my GP, my therapist and my wife. I can guarantee that any of my friends or colleagues would be utterly suprised if I told them. Like most (male) depressives I am f*ing amazing at keeping up appearances.

So anyone like bailey that can come out publically deserves respect in my book.

I think it'd be good to share one of the best quotes I've come accross, its from the author Matt Haig and sums up depression and anxiety way better than I ever could...

That is spot on.

My head feels like a contradiction all the time.

I nearly took my life mid December just gone and if only for a random drunken accidental phone call off my sister at 0130am early Saturday morning, i wouldn't be here now, notes written, finances sorted all plans in place sat in a country lane in Codicote, Hertfordshire.
Part of you wants to go and another part of looks for anything, any small reason to keep you here. Every day through November and December i had an internal fight to carry on or end it and it was a fight i only recently won due to heavy support and strong medication and me being honest, you need to reach out to people otherwise it can overtake you.

Your honesty is massively impressive, glad you got the help and support you needed.

The quote above someone posted is so spot on....

"Matt Haig wrote:
Having anxiety and depression is like being scared and tired at the same time.
It’s the fear of failure but no urge to be productive.
It’s wanting friends but hate socializing.
It’s wanting to be alone but not wanting to be lonely.
It’s caring about everything then caring about nothing.
It’s feeling everything at once then feeling paralyzingly nothing."

Honestly just hearing that others on here have had similar troubles (I don't wish they had btw) is a real eye opener for me as you often feel like no one else has a clue about what you're going through. As great as friends and family can be, hearing from someone who has/is going through the same makes such a difference.

One thing that doesn't support mental health is spending too much time on line and believing some peoples views are representative of the majority.

I've had a predisposition towards depression for about 20 years, and it's only in recent years that ive opened up about it since getting to a point where I didn't want to go on anymore. On top of what is a family history of mental illness I also suffered debilitating arthritis (now controlled with weekly injections) and I had also planned a family with a girlfriend who then had a termination against my will, I'd never been to a lower place.

Through all of this I've used my career in sport development and voluntary coaching (in my 13th year) to give me a purpose. I've worked incredibly hard to better myself through these outlets, seeing a councillor for the last 2 1/2 years and taking medication aswell as overcoming the shame of it and opening up to others. It could have been very easy to give in completely, and I have been at that point, but I feel I deserve more.

Good to hear so many empathetic people.

Well done for being so brave and challenging it and working to overcome your struggle.

Again awsome honesty. This is like a support group now

This bit in particular is bang on with me (a long standing predisposition is exactly the right term for me too)....

I've had a predisposition towards depression for about 20 years, and it's only in recent years that ive opened up about it since getting to a point where I didn't want to go on anymore. On top of what is a family history of mental illness

Steady on mate - You can't come on here talking about harsh realities that there are plenty of unscrupulous people - you've got no empathy, no heart.... You want to kick a man whilst he's down...

Interestingly, we put all our managers where I work through a counselling course run by the mental health charity MIND (we had poor absence records, with lots of work related stress). The course was aimed at identifying signs of mental illness and preparing our managers for conversations - enabling them to provide the best possible support. What MIND also did was introduce a 'parachute document' for managers to use in 121s. In real basic terms, it was a questionnaire that helped identify what was causing the person problems, it covers the whole spectrum of mental illnesses (but is only a guide), but focuses mainly on identifying if someone is depressed, stressed (they're 2 different things chemically - stress is not a mental illness) or finally, 'swinging the lead'.... Whilst MIND are and were clearly focussed on supporting those with mental illness, they also helped the company with ways and means of identifying and dealing with the urine takers.... Someone better get on to MIND and tell them how un-empathetic they are, believing some people could try and blag it.

I've always had what I would say a mild underlying problem with depression but nothing i didn't think i could manage, the trouble is though it was that illusion of control that stopped me getting help, if anyone has mild depression ibwould strongly suggest getting help now, because there can come a time you hit rock bottom and without support and a touch of luck you can quite easily do something silly to yourself.
I'm still not over it but i am over the sucidal thoughts, and don't ever think it won't happen to you, the brain is a powerful organ and it can do strange things under duress.

Been good to get that off my chest if I'm honest, thank you to the others too, it's a sign of strength to be open about your weaknesses, thank you.

Like I said before it's great to hear others have gone through this......again, not that I mean that I wish this on you or other people......I wish you hadn't endured this but I mean to be not alone in this means a lot. When the talk of Bailey's depression first appeared on this thread I had a lot of indecision about if I was comfortable enough to be able to add to this topic.

6 years ago I took a kitchen knife with me to bed with the intention to end my life and the only thing that stopped me is that my father had a son from a previous marriage that had been murdered in 2003 and I had to watch him bury a son......no father should have to do that and my father who was always tough as bricks I saw a wreck in tears and the thought that he'd have to do that again was the only thing that stopped me.

The one that I'm ashamed of is that unlike others on here I continually refuse to get professional help. The daft thing is, I do know it's whats best for me...but like Smokey said, depression can show itself as lack of motivation and I haven't had the motivation to seek help.

That and the other symptoms he mentions "lack of motivation, trouble sleeping, lack of energy, avoiding social activities and contact with friends and a higher propensity for substance".....

I'm lucky if I get 3 hours sleep a day, I push friends away when they organise social activities and make excuse for not attending and for substance abuse I absolutely hammer vodka and cociane on a regular basis......not proud of it but it's what gets me through the days unfortunately.

The one principle I work hard to live by is to force myself out of my comfort zone every single day, it's only then that the condition improves. 'The things you feel least like doing are the things you need to be doing', it's like a job in itself making the right decisions every minute of everyday, build the wall one brick at a time. One thing that's saved me is being ultra competitive, I'll not take it lying Down.

Fairplay to everybody whose opened up on here. Thankfully, not something I've had to endure, but those who've been brave enough to talk about it surely can only lead to others suffering in silence to not be ashamed and talk to their friends/family about it