Since the very start, we have wanted CandleX to be a platform for sharing stories and advice about mental health. Throughout previous projects, such as Moodlab, where we produced a series of story on bipolar disorder and our recent Letters to Parents series, we have focused on real-life experiences and stories of people living with mental health conditions, and of young people as they learn more about themselves. Now, for, we are putting all of these projects together under a

Times have changed; We are living during a global pandemic and life as we knew it no longer exists. Most of us have been on lockdown in our homes for at least two months and all of our hopes, dreams, and plans are at the least interrupted, and some are put on hold for now. However, we are strong and we know that life must go on so we are learning how to do things differently. This year, CandleX’s annual workshop with Elite Scholars of China was moved online using GoToMeeting.

Hi CandleXers, Here’s the next installment of our “Letters to Parents” series, in which we give Beijing high school or college-aged young people the chance to write a letter to some of the most important people in their lives – their parents. As ever, if you have any ideas or would like to join this project, get in touch. Dear Mom, When was the last time that you had to remind me to study? I don’t remember either, because it must have been a long time ago, and you don’t need

Hi CandleXers! Thanks for the great feedback on our “letters to parents” series, in which we’ve been asking teenage Beijingers to write the letter to their parents they have always wanted to write. These anonymous letters are all written by teens that are either still in high school or have just graduated. “English class reminded me of you” To my dearest parents, It's been quite a long time since the last time I wrote to you. I hope you are all safe during this coronavirus si

Last year we published a video interview with David, a Washington participant in a mental health peer support group. The coronavirus outbreak in Beijing has meant that much of our peer support has been remote over the last few weeks, but CandleX is still committed to providing psychosocial support for Beijing’s English-speaking community. Here’s an interview with Emily, who has just started facilitating a peer support group for those bereaved by suicide in her hometown. If yo

This week, we are reposting a blog from Joel Lewin, a journalist turned counselor and recovering addict. This piece was originally posted on https://recovereads.com/2019/01/08/mind-reading-screws-you-up-stop/ when the author was in recovery for heroin addiction. To read more from Joel, tap “Read more” below. I was in a meeting. It was a brief, informal meeting, a get-to-know-you meeting with an editor at a job I’d just started. He asked me a friendly question about Russia bec