Anniversary of pop icon Leslie Cheung’s death sparks concerns about depression in China
- Leslie Cheung suffered from severe depression, prompting discussions about mental health on the Chinese internet
- Experts said it is difficult to receive proper mental health treatment in China
It was always a poignant moment to commemorate the musical legend, but this year, people also openly talked about their own mental health.
“When I was living with severe depression, every time I mention it to my loved ones, they would always shut me down and tell me to stop overthinking,” said a Weibo commentator.
Another person wrote, “No clinical diagnose, but I am very certain that I was living with depression for a while. During that time, I felt anxious and felt like the whole world was working against me. No matter what I did, I could not accomplish my goals.”
Christina Wang, a mental health counsellor in Shanghai, said, “Many Chinese people feel they have to have depression to go to a therapist. That should not be the case.”
Depression patients need both medication and psychotherapy, but most Chinese people are forced to choose between two unideal plans.
