11pm at the ticket desk for CandleX’s 2 Year Birthday Party It was packed! Streams of people jammed at the ticket desk to see some of the best bands in town performing. At one point, people were even standing on the stair case to watch below since the floor was completely full! Check out the video below for our 2 year anniversary party. CandleX turned 2 on the 1st of April, 2017. If you are watching from within China, please click here to watch. What a special day for us! And what a special day for the community! For 2 years, we’ve been building connections in the community with the vision that everyone, in any mental condition, would be acknowledged, accepted and supported. We all have been through difficult times, but what could be better than holding hands and getting through it together? “In our 2 years of work, there have been countless moments when I saw the power of connection manifested trough conversation and sharing about mental health, along with the power of a positive and supportive environment to do so. Turning a struggle into the strength to power through difficult times”; “It's exhausting of course, running a startup NGO, but each time someone expresses their gratitude towards the work we’ve done, that serves as the fuel to drive us forward. 2 years passed in the blink of an eye, and I know there will be many, many more to come” ~Xiaojie If you are watching from within China, please click here to watch. Xiaojie - founder and executive director So the CandleX team invited the Beijing community to its 2-year anniversary. It was an evening filled with live music, performances, socializing, and celebrations. The event was attended by an estimate of around two hundred people, who helped not only to raise funds for CandleX, but also raise the roof of Modernista. The event consisted of two parts. In the afternoon people had a chance to join different types of dance workshops – Belly Dancing, Contact Improv Dance, and Xiaojie’s own favorite, Swing dance. People of all genders and all levels could explore their creativity and open up to new experiences with professional teachers and fellow community members. The second part of the event began at 8PM, with Modernista opening up its doors to everyone. It included a swing dance performance, talks, and live band performances from Nathan and Carl and Tavey Lean and the Solid Gold Dream Machine, who got the crowd on their feet and dancing until well into the night. The party was not only for the community to enjoy great music and win amazing raffle prizes, but also to learn more about the people behind CandleX. Thus, the executive director and founder Xiaojie Qin took some time to introduce the organization, its purpose, and wholeheartedly thank the volunteers, the sponsors, and the attendees. All the proceedings of the evening will help us continue to do more mental health projects in Beijing. Keep supporting each other and follow our coming activities through our WeChat account. The event was supported by amazing sponsors, such as the Inko Tribal Bellydance Studio, Modernista, Swing Beijing, numerous big and small local Beijing organizations and businesses. We would also like to thank the musicians from Nathan and Carl and Solid Gold for graciously donating their time for free. It’s personally touching to see so many from the Beijing community so willingly give their time and services to many great causes such as CandleX. Enough with the wordy explanations, we invite you to enjoy all the great photos from the event below! Specials thanks to all our sponsors.

One of the questions that we most frequently receive is, “I am feeling depressed. What can I do?” In our answer, we always include this element: Try Meditation! This ancient practice has been studied in Cognitive Therapy in the past few decades. Continued studies have shown the positive effect of regular meditation practice on mental wellbeing. Come and join us at BarCamp this Saturday night to hear about our personal experiences with the practice of meditation and treatment of depression. Founder of CandleX, Xiaojie, turned to mindfulness practice to cope with depression, and along the way, the deepening of her practice has helped her to decrease the likelihood of a relapse. She will speak about her journey, and also about how we can begin and then continue a mindfulness practice. Come join us at Bar Camp, and many other inspirational speakers and topics

On July 17, 2016, art appreciators from around Beijing met at the We+ Coworking space in 798 to experience “Bipolar,” a collective art exhibition exploring the expression of opposing natures. Sponsored by The French Lab, the event featured work by many excellent local artists such as Laurent Hou, Filippo Cardella, Anthony Ragucci and Nate Rood, and was described by the curators as a, “psychotic show that explores differences, potentiality and limits of professionalism and naïveté to break the tight boundaries where art has been secluded.” In keeping with the spirit of the event, CandleX was invited to give a short talk to those in attendance, to inform and educate on the real nature of bi-polar disorder as a mental illness. Marco Brun del Re was enlisted to serve as representative, and was presented with the mission to first share with his audience the experience of his own personal story with bi-polar, and then use this to describe the attributes of creativity and intelligence commonly associated with the disorder, while finally emphasizing the importance of empathy and compassion towards the bi-polar/depressive community. In doing so, Marco was able to conclude by illustrating the nature of CandleX’s mission statement: to increase awareness and knowledge of depression and bi-polar disorder, reduce social stigma, and provide social support for those afflicted. Marco Brun del Re at the bipolar exhibition There were roughly 200 attendees at the exhibition and around 70 were there for the talk, and they had free roam of the space for the rest of the evening. Despite the poor acoustics of the room and the difficulty hearing for most of the audience, the presentation was well attended, and was even described by one listener as resembling a “TED talk.” It was Marco’s first attempt at public speaking, and the talk was well received. We hope at least for some of the listeners, a new perspective was shed on the relationship between art and life. It was the first time Candlex had engaged a representative to spread awareness on depression. Marco engaged the audience with his sincerity and openness that has always had an impact on people. Like we believe, you don’t always know who is listening, but you might have made a difference. This will be an on-going effort to engage more inspiring members to advocate for mental health, to empower others whose voice is still blocked by fear and shame. You can also find Marco’s personal story in CandleX’s column: My Story with Depression.

Depression in China among teenage students has worsened, given the increasing competition of academic achievement, and the impact of China’s fast development on Chinese traditional value for students from well off families. On June 18th, 2016 CandleX held a depression workshop for Elite Scholars of China (ESC). Elite Scholars of China aims to educate China’s top high school students about their undergraduate options in the United States. The students who attended the presentation recently graduated from high school and all will be moving abroad to the United States to attend college in the fall. Our CandleX Technical Advisor, Melena Slaven, M.A., conducted the presentation. Melena is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified National Counselor. The presentation included a 90-minute multi-media and interactive workshop followed by a Q&A session. The goal was to inform the students about depression, suicide, and to promote self-care, as the students will be moving into a high pressure environment in a new culture. Students were encouraged to be aware of the symptoms of depression in themselves and fellow peers and were taught how to respond when they see the signs. This workshop contributes to Candlex’s goal to improve the mental health in China. Melena covered the prevalence of depression and suicide in college students. Surprisingly, 36.4% of college students reported they experienced some level of depression in 2013. (Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors) and depression is the number one reason students drop out of school. If left untreated, depression could lead to other symptoms/problems or suicide. Statistics show that 10% of college students have thought about or made a plan to commit suicide. There are over 1,000 suicidal deaths on college campuses in the U.S. every year, as reported by Emory University. Most importantly, students were encouraged to seek out help from their campus mental health center and to not feel shame for reaching out for help. Depression is a serious issue, but we don’t have to treat talking about it as if it is the plague. CandleX’s workshops all take an easy to digest approach by using role play, multi-media, group work and reflecting exercises. Afterwards, Melena was very happy to receive positive feedback from the students. Students reported being very thankful to receive the information. Some students reported that the presentation was “inspirational!” CandleX hopes that this presentation will become an annual event for agencies and schools that work with students. The small steps we take build our resilience against mental illness as well as reduce the stigma to discussing it and seeking help when necessary. Still, 350 million people in the world suffer from depression (for more info on depression statistics, please go to Candlex Classroom). That means you probably know someone who is currently suffering or has suffered in the past. However, you may not know who this person is. It can be your friend, colleague, or even a family member. We want to tell those that have depression that there is help in Beijing and to inform those who don’t have depression how they can help. If you think your workplace, school, or organization could benefit from a workshop such as this one, email us at info@candlex.cn When we start to talk about depression we start to heal. #Beijing #mentalhealth #depression #bipolar #anxiety

Mental illness is a huge taboo in China. There is a lot of social stigma related to mental health and the majority of people who are affected by it do not have even a basic understanding of what is going on or can be done to help. Most end up suffering in silence, as they do not know who to talk to or even how to tell their story. The fist step towards recovery is to talk about it, to shed light on the illness. Simply saying, “I need help” can open the door to recovery. It is equally important for those who are not suffering to know how to interact with and support those who are. In June 2015, CandleX went to Thailand and produced a documentary that tells the stories of 4 people’s experiences with depression. These stories serve to educate society about depression and this contributes to a reduction in stigma being directed towards those suffering from depression. They also help to encourage and comfort those who are personally experiencing depression. Join Us for a Screening: 19:30-21:00,16th May Bookworm Sanlitun, Beijing For registration: email: info@candlex.cn Past Screenings: Dec, 2015 Moishe House Mar, 2016 Beijing Mindfulness Center Click here to watch the trailor. We’d like to give special thanks to the bright and warm spirits were brave enough to share their stories with us. Thank you New Life Foundation for graciously hosting CandleX and allowing this documentary to become a reality. #depression #mentalhealth #Beijing

CandleX hosted a documentary screening at the Beijing Mindfulness Center. The documentary, “The Tiny Little Box” is CandleX’s own production and was shot in Thailand in 2015. The documentary follows four individual’s stories about their struggles with depression. It also speaks to two mindfulness practitioners about their stories. After the film concluded, a Q&A session was held. We discussed the basics of mental health such as why depression happens, what causes it to start and end, and also how you can help friends or family deal with depression. We thrive to create a non-judgmental, caring and knowledgeable environment to raise awareness about depression. Depression can happen to all of us regardless of our social status, economic status, and beliefs. When we start to talk about depression, we start to heal. Local Resources for Social Support CandleX’s Peer Support Group Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, CandleX hosts a Peer Support Group. This is where people in any mental state can go and share openly in a confidential setting. Please scan the QR code below to reserve your spot or to contact us with any questions you may have. Beijing Mindfulness Center/Small Steps Office The Beijing Mindfulness Center was created so that Beijing could have a calm place where Beijing residents can go to relax and reconnect with their inner self through the practice of mindfulness. Dalida Turkovic, the founder of the Beijing Mindfulness Center and acting life coach, is committed to bringing this type of setting to the Beijing community. At the Beijing Mindfulness Center, growth, curiosity, positivity, self-awareness and non-judgment are the guiding values. For more information on the Beijing Mindfulness Center please visit their website, www.beijingmindfulness.com Call for More Screenings CandleX is always looking for more places to screen our documentary and after each screening we will give presentations and/or have a discussion on depression. Our goal is to raise awareness and increase the community’s knowledge about depression. If anyone is interested in breaking the silence of depression, please contact us through our wechat account (scan below). Stay in touch with CandleX for more updates on events and workshops by scanning our QR code below. #mentalhealth #depression #Beijing

You are invited to a screening of the documentary, “The Tiny Little Box, a Documentary about Depression” at the Small Steps, QianYongKang Hutong44. DID YOU KNOW: 7% of the general population is experiencing a major episode of depression at this moment. Depression can be treated with appropriate anti-depressants and psychotherapy. Your actions as a family member, friend, or colleague towards people with depression can be very influential to their recovery. “The Tiny Little Box” documents four people’s experiences with depression. They share their stories about the onset of depression, recall what their emotional state was like during, and also talk about their recovery. Two mindfulness practitioners explore their experiences with mindfulness practice, which is heralded as an effective way to cope with, and also to aid in, the depression recovery process. The director of New Life Foundation also tells his story of how mindfulness changed his life. This documentary has been screened in Thailand and Beijing and we invite you to join in and engage with us on a topic that needs more public attention. Through talking about mental health struggles, we take the first step towards healing. Location: QianYongkang Hutong, 44 前永康胡同44号，东城区，北京 RSVP: info@candlex.cn. Space is limited. Leave your name and your phone number in your registration email. Fee: free Time: March 27th Sunday, 2016, 19:00-20:30 We look forward to movie night with you! #depression #TheTinyLittleBox #Beijing

On March 13th 2016, the CandleX team visited a Psychiatric Group Home, Sunshine Home, in the outer suburbs of Beijing. Sunshine Home houses patients who have already been discharged from hospital but still need care and assistance. Sunshine Home assists patients with the rehabilitation process. Sunshine Home invited us to visit so that we could learn about the facilities and services available for patients, as well as to gain an understanding of the gaps in available resources and resultant challenges faced by the Sunshine Home carers. We were moved by how passionate and dedicated the caring director and staff is. Director Yang said that, “Everyone here is respected and acknowledge of their ability to contribute to society. What we do here is create a safe environment and give the patients opportunities to regain basic life skills.” Most patients here are long term residents with chronic psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Family visits some once a week, while others have been left alone. The majority of patients face serious financial difficulties due to their lack of capacity to work. This presents a serious challenge for Sunshine Home because most patients are not able to pay for the assistance that they receive. Patients are still fed and cared for even if they are unable to pay and Sunshine Home is always trying to improve the quality of the service provided. It was clear that the patients receive really good care. They were all relaxed and calm and the staff know each of their likes and dislikes well. The patients follow a routine and they each have their own roles and responsibilities to attend to during the day. Some help with cleaning the street and home while others act as salesmen at the home’s corner store. Twice a week sees the much love event “Crazy Bake”. Staff and patients work together to bake breads such as bagels and challah. International schools and stores in Beijing purchase this bread, and this helps to supplement Sunshine’s Home income. Patients also learn how to make homemade soap and at least one day a week is dedicated to this fragrant project. At Sunshine Home, the patients are not judged and their skills and abilities are valued. They are given the opportunity to use their skills and to feel capable and productive. This acceptance and care leads to Sunshine Home feeling like home those who are suffering and may not find such a place elsewhere. If you would like to volunteer at Sunshine Home or provide financial assistance please email CandleX at info@candlex.cn and we will assist you in initiating contact. #volunteer #Beijing #SunshineHome #mentalhealth

On 17th of May, 2015, with the full support from Moishe House Beijing, CandleX was honored to be with the friends from Moishe House, where Xiaojie QIN shared her personal story. It started with an educational video on bi-polar disorder, followed by real life case of Xiaojie. We shared the symptoms of bi-polar disorder, and how it’s related to the environment and biological condition, as well as what we can do to improve the situation. We were happy to see that audience started to open up during our Q&A session, and one particular participant came to us for more info. We strongly believe that, just by acknowledging and accepting that we do get unwell mentally in life, and seeing it as normal, it would significantly reduce the inward aggression, and self-blame that most people with depression experience. This is what our public sharing intend to contribute to as well. #Beijing #China #mentalhealth

BEIJING – On January 4, 2020, David Schmidt (pictured below), an advocate for mental health and a passionate supporter of CandleX, passed away. Throughout his life, David traveled around the world and spent many years in China. In 2019, Xiaojie visited David in Tecumseh, Michigan, USA, and seized on the chance to ask David’s brother, Don, about his personal experience caring for and supporting David when he was suffering from depression. You can watch the full interview here. The interview with Don touches upon a number of key topics of universal value to our understanding of depression. It offers us an insight into two different but interrelated experiences of mental illness, i.e. the perspective of the person suffering, and the perspective of a loved one trying to help the sufferer. The former is introduced to us directly by David, through his own personal experience. The latter point of view is embodied and presented by his brother Don. The following points are touched upon in the video: · the personal and environmental factors that may contribute to the onset of depression · some useful coping strategies to adopt when in depression, especially when moving abroad and/or back home · how to care for and support someone with depression · how to take care of yourself when helping someone who is struggling with a mental illness The two different experiences provide bidirectional insights – from the inside to the outside and vice versa – that could facilitate better communication and increase understanding between both actors. In terms of recommended coping strategies when suffering from depression – both abroad and back home – suggestions include: · Being realistic, and not falling prey to expectations that are too high – from yourself as well as from the surrounding environment. · Remember that putting too much pressure on yourself can easily result in feelings of disappointment and frustration. It is much better to approach challenges step by step · Seeking help and support from relatives and loved ones, if possible · Socializing and reaching out to a local support group · Trying to better communicate with loved ones in order to decrease stress and avert misunderstanding The part on caring and supporting someone with depression is led by Don, and exemplified by David’s sister Mary. She helps us sketch the following takeaways: · Listen, listen, listen, as sometimes doing nothing but simply listening is both the only and best thing one can do · If possible, take care of some simple yet essential daily tasks such as cooking meals, doing laundry, going to the doctor, etc · Focus less on problem-solution dynamics and more on open, compassionate and sincere communication Finally, Don warmheartedly explains how he tackled the stresses and strains he experienced when trying to help David through his hardest times – the fear, anger, and anguish deriving from the sense of hopelessness and vulnerability Don witnessed and had to deal with. When prompted to reflect on self-care strategies when helping someone with depression, Don suggests: · Looking for a sympathetic ‘crutch’ – a friend, partner or relative ­– to confide in · Creating a supportive network to provide a ‘refill’ when spiritually and physically drained · Accepting your powerlessness at times in order to control feelings of frustration and inadequacy · Working to maintain a sense of mental balance You can learn more about David’s struggle with depression in his own words here. CandleX’s Resources Are you or a friend in a Crisis? Crisis Support Your questions on mental health | CandleX Classroom https://www.candlex.cn/classroom Depression stories from our community members (both adults and teens) CandleX Column | Community Writing https://www.candlex.cn/community-writing Pretreatment CandleX Wechat Groups all ages, add our admin: niama_elazzab for 15-22 year old, add our admin: amaraprenderyya Peer Support Group biweekly meetings and biweekly hangout

Author: Jane Written in : 2021 The biggest “surprise” came without any hints. That day was just another normal day. It began with our daily breakfast routine; my mom prepared eggs, bread, apples, and grapes, as I prepared the coffee. My brother came as he usually did without any prompts. As usual, I was the first one to talk. I enjoyed talking with my family, but I typically spoke about myself, my feelings, and my thoughts. My brother usually hesitates to make any comments or is reluctant to give feedback, especially on topics that don’t interest him. The day before, I had gone to an event about embracing our vulnerability and taking risks. To my surprise, one-third of the attendees that day talked about their own struggles with depression, not being able to enjoy life and work, and also their helplessness to speak about the truth with friends and family. As I listened attentively to the stories, it was hard for me to relate to them wholeheartedly; maybe I didn’t empathize properly. At the breakfast table that morning, I retold what I saw, heard, and felt at the event, and then without any consciousness, turned my head towards my brother and asked, “It was so unbelievable, women and youth are really having a bad time these days. How about you? Do you have depression?” This time without hesitation, he said, “Yes,” and no more. The world froze in that second; tears rushed out of my eyes. I felt lost, suddenly filled with fear, sadness, and worry. Before my tears fell from my eyes, I cried out. My mom was beside me, I was not even aware of her reaction (maybe I was not brave enough to look at her face at that moment), and I started to talk. This time, I spoke about my surprise and apologized for not knowing what my brother was going through. After a short while, my brother continued and told me he had suffered from severe depression for years, and he knew how to deal with it properly with the doctor’s instruction and medication. I kept apologizing, but he said calmly, “You don’t have to apologize, not about you. I don’t hide now because I am okay with it.” What he said soothed me, and I stopped crying and began to pay attention to my mom. She said nothing but looked worried. Breakfast didn’t last long, as we all had plenty of work to do that day. My bother left home; first, my mom started cleaning up the table immediately. I could feel my feet again, and adjusted my tone, and tried to comfort my mom, saying that depression is common nowadays, we shouldn’t worry too much. After all, we believe in medical science, and we believe in my brother. The days following that breakfast, I searched my memories for clues about my brother, such as why I always felt that he was in a low mood and unhappy, with little interest in others and talking to me. I thought about how he preferred to stay alone in his room for a long time, how he always looked tired and refused to go outside, how he seemed so detached from the surroundings. Now I see that I was too good at justifying his actions and telling myself he was just an introverted person with a different personality than me. We had a different mind, and I never thought about depression, not a second! How terrible, how shocking! I was filled with regret! The only positive thing my mind told me was that nothing “worse” happened before now; everything was just fine! （一切都是最好的安排！） I was surprised that my mom wasn’t that concerned; she said it was not a big problem (indeed, she had seen worse in her life than this). Maybe my mom had a much “bigger heart” than me; maybe she was too old to care about emotional suffering anymore; I did not ask her. More importantly, she is very open, positive, and supportive—she went on with her life as usual. She still goes to the market at nearly the same time as she always did to buy daily goods and cook us meals, especially the Happy Friday Dinner. I am more attentive to my brother’s feelings and enjoy buying flowers for his room and our living room, inviting him to go outdoors with us. He doesn't resist anymore; we have captured the beautiful spring of Beijing during our weekly outdoor explorations with our mom. Thanks to my brother’s open and honest discussion about his depression, our entire family learned more about self-care, caring for each other, and enjoying life. After all, everyone has low moments, disappointments, and frustrations. You name it; they are part of our life, accepting and understanding are all we need. If you are unsure of how to support friends and family who are going through depression, check out our pre-treatment guidance project. With the funds raised from our monthly dog event and monthly donation, we are now able to offer a few sessions with 70% cost overed. You can also choose to join our monthly donation group by scan the QR code below. CandleX’s Resources Are you or a friend in a Crisis? Crisis Support Your questions on mental health | CandleX Classroom https://www.candlex.cn/classroom Depression stories from our community members (both adults and teens) CandleX Column | Community Writing https://www.candlex.cn/community-writing A CandleX production on Depression The Tiny Little Box | A Documentary on Depression CandleX Wechat Groups all ages, add our admin: Zingyzinger for 15-22 year old, add our admin: amaraprenderyya Peer Support Group biweekly meetings

Have you signed up to our online course club yet? It’s pretty simple: we all sign up to take a free course together and go deeper into the ideas in sessions facilitated by licensed therapists. The course is called “Anxiety, Depression and CBT” and it is available on FutureLearn. Scan the QR code to learn more and sign up. In line with the topic of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT, we are publishing a piece this week by Alison, a Chinese-born 18-year-old 11th grader at Dana High School in the United States. We hope you enjoy her piece about how CBT helped her. CBT opened my eyes to see the person that I truly am without the thoughts that used to suppress my self-esteem by stirring up difficult emotions in me. I’ve always been the “perfect” child in almost every aspect of life, until I came to the US for high school, where I was hit by a great sense of failure. At the beginning of high school, I found that I wasn’t doing as well as before both academically and socially. Although I understood the challenging nature of adjusting to a new environment while navigating my student life, the overachieving part of myself wasn’t satisfied with any slips or mistakes. My worst critic became a voice in my head; it blamed even a slight lowering in my grade on “my stupid brain that can’t even process the most basic information in class”, and attributed the difficulty in making friends at first on me being “so unpopular that no one wants to hang out with me”. My self-esteem lowered with each word that the voice was telling me, yet I listened with an attentive ear, believing that I deserve to suffer because of how worthless I was without the great achievements and people’s compliments that I used to experience back in China. By the time I connected with my therapist, I was already a mess, anxious about what I’d do with “my life of failure” and accusing myself of being the cause of every unfortunate thing that has happened to me. My therapist, however, always helps me to identify my inaccurate thoughts that I took for granted as the truth. For example, I was once so ashamed about not being able to hold a conversation with a new friend that I believed that my social skills have declined. My therapist pointed out that in this case, guided by shame, I went down the path of emotional reasoning. She explained that one event doesn’t tell the whole story, so just because I experienced an awkward moment, doesn’t mean that I was doing worse socially than I did before. Introducing me to CBT helped me to recognize that instead of serving me, my intrusive thoughts can often militate against my well-being. One practice of CBT that helped me immensely was writing down my intrusive thoughts, the emotions that stem from them, and my consequent reaction. Through regular practices, CBT took off the blindfold made of unhelpful feelings and helped me to become more aware of my thoughts, and I was finally able to dig deeper into my fundamental beliefs that gave rise to unhelpful thoughts like the one aforementioned. For me, after all, everything came down to my underlying core belief that I needed to do everything perfectly, or else I would be a failure. As time went on, and I gradually adjusted to studying at a new school, I found that I am still the person that I was before— a learning enthusiast and that quirky one who attracts like-minded people to become friends with me. Throughout this process of rediscovering myself, CBT has been crucial in helping me to be mindful of my thoughts and beliefs and encouraging me to engage in more positive self-talk. Our experiences are not what happens to us, but rather what we think has happened to us and what we do about it. So, I sincerely hope more people can benefit from learning about CBT, and break free from the cage of unhelpful thinking patterns. CandleX’s Resources Access the CandleX archive on depression and mental health Are you or a friend in a Crisis? Crisis Support CandleX on Twitter www.twitter.com/CandleX_Beijing/ Stories and writing from our community https://www.candlex.cn/blog/category/Community%20Writing Support Group Support Group Sign Ups