THIS week was full of dark headlines: the trial of John Hogan, who leapt from a hotel balcony with his two children in front of his wife Natasha (right), killing their six-year-old son; the seven “copycat” teenage suicides in Bridgend.

The common factor was the possible influence of depression. And it was significant that these stories played out against money markets teetering on the brink of recession.

Depression is recognised as being among the ten most debilitating illnesses worldwide, the single most important cause of workplace absence in the UK.

Depression that leads to full-blown psychosis, as it did with John Hogan, attracts the biggest headlines as it leads to extremes of behaviour. There is rarely any mention of the impact this devastating illness has on relationships and families. But, in this case, through Hogan’s now ex-wife Natasha, we got a rare glimpse of the acute dilemmas involved.

She could cope no more and told him that she was leaving him. If she had not said this, according to the Greek psychiatrist caring for John Hogan during his trial, their son would still be alive.

Many people living with someone with a mental illness, be it mild or severe, know this feeling of walking on eggshells, not knowing what to say or not to say. But one thing is certain. Natasha Hogan is not responsible for the actions of her former husband and nor should she be held responsible for them because of something she said. The families of those who are depressed feel enough guilt, shame and stigma as it is.

But society in general does have a wider responsibility to help to improve everyone’s mental health.

There is enormous interest at the moment in the concept of mental “wellbeing” and the next report of Foresight, the Government’s science think-tank with which I am involved, will be on this subject.

Mental wellbeing means having the resilience to cope with life’s ups and downs, but US research suggests that 11 per cent of the population is struggling on this level – not obviously mentally ill but living, like those teenagers in Bridgend, a life of despair.

As recession begins to bite, policies that increase mental wellbeing in Britain will be more urgently needed than ever.

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