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Hi CandleXers! Here’s the second in our “Letter to my parents” series written by highschoolers in Beijing – the letters they have always wanted to write. We hope you find it interesting. If you want to contribute to the CandleX Wechat account, just let us know in the comments, by email or via Wechat. Thanks! Hi, Mom， Since I was in elementary school, our communication hasn’t been very well. I still remember the time when I was 8, you wanted me to practice algebra, but I didn’t want to. We argued for hours before you forced me to sit by the desk and complete the problems. The algebra questions weren’t hard, and it only took about 30 minutes to finish them. However, I just didn’t want to do it. I don’t know the psychology or logic behind it, but I find it so hard to just do what I’m told. Especially when you are the one who gives the order, Mom. I know that everything you have planned is for my future, my life, and myself as a person, but the way you pass those messages along really discourages me. I always feel stressed when I am with you, when I hear your voice, see your face… sometimes, I’m even scared of your presence. I tried to talk it out with you, but you said I feel this way because I feel afraid and intimidated to be in the presence of someone better than me. This might be true, but I’m not with some random person who have better grades or higher intelligence, I’m with my mother. Shouldn’t I feel a sense of caring and love from her? I know, everyone has different approaches to expressing their love for other people. Maybe your approach is just comparatively rational and harsh. I do appreciate everything you have given me. You taught me to speak English fluently, to have good manners, and to treat people with kindness and respect. I also know that you expect a lot more from me, but I just want you to be proud, Mom. I recall that our last argument was about preparing for the SAT exam. That day, when you walked through the doorway, seeing me with the cell phone in my hands, you were furious. You yelled at me, saying that I wasted my life and all the resources you have offered. I understood that your intention was just to remind me not to waste time on the screen. I, however, didn’t take it mildly. I shouted back, and we had a severe argument that lasted for almost 2 hours. Studying for a whole day, every day, from morning to noon, might be the most direct way to enter a Top-20 university in the US, but is that normal life for a teenager? You always say getting into a good college is the key to success, to wealth, and to a high quality of life. Even when I praise the good taste of the breakfast you have made, you remind me that I won’t eat the same type of food in the future, if I don’t put enough hard work into my studies. Mom, I really want you to see some of my positive qualities, rather than focusing on the time not following your instruction to memorize vocabulary and studying for the SAT. You have said that I rejected all your advices, but that’s not true at all mom. I have always observed and learned from you, your financial management skills, your character, and your life experience. Not following your guidance to study doesn’t mean I have blocked out everything about I love about you, and there should be a lot more connection between you and me, Mom. I love you, Your son, Ted #teens #myemotionsmystories

David passed away on 4 January 2020, shortly before the release of this video. David Schmidt cared deeply about mental health, and we now publish this video in memory of his kindness and his strength. Xiaojie Jan 2020 In the first of a new video series from CandleX, Founder Xiaojie’s old friend David shares his experience joining a support group for those struggling with mental health problems. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, scroll to the bottom of this article to find out how to sign up for CandleX’s peer support group or access other crisis support hotlines. Call Lifeline free in China on 400 821 1215 from 10 am to10 pm, 365 days a year. “It’s not just what I get from it – it’s also what I can give to it,” says David, an American man in his late seventies, when asked exactly what brings him back to the support group he attends in his local area every week without fail. It’s a testament to the value of giving back to the community and finding your place, and to David’s kind heart, which shines through in this video interview with CandleX director Xiaojie Qin. David Schmidt in Tecumseh Michigan, Photo by Xiaojie David may be living in a different continent, but the video makes it clear that some of the issues that he has faced are universal – who hasn’t felt some alienation when moving to a new place? Or wished that they had someone to listen to them in a non-judgmental setting? Attending a support group specific to your needs can be a valuable way to work through your issues. Watch the video below to find out more about David’s story: If you live in China, you can watch from our Tencent channel: https://v.qq.com/x/page/y3052ybu8g2.html If you live abroad from China, you can go watch from our Youtube channel: Next time we will share David’s brother Don’s experience with a family member living with mental health issues. Questions? Comments? E-mail us at info@candlex.cn. #mentalhealth #depression #bipolardisorder #Beijing #China #psychologicalsupport #suicideprevention #supportgroup #mystorywithdepression

Event participant Jacob reviewed our most recent workshop on the topic of Communication. By nature, we humans are social creatures. Thus, the way in which we negotiate our relationships, particularly surrounding disagreement, is critical to our individual development. We often struggle with effective communication and this can affect us in a multitude of ways. Thus, taking a moment of pause and reflect on how we communicate our thoughts, feelings, and (many times) our disagreement with others is needed. On April 25th, 2019, CandleX hosted a workshop on ‘fighting fair’. The workshop was held at the Moishe House, which provided a relaxed and intimate atmosphere for participants to open up about their desires regarding healthy communication. While the title of the talk may have led one to believe that ‘relationships’ focused exclusively on ‘intimate relationships’, the skills and practices shared by accredited therapist Kindall Tyson covered everything from friendships, collegial relations, to everyday moments in life. The workshop covered the different communicative styles and how to identify them, as well as some methods to communicate assertively but empathetically in order to make oneself heard. The workshop began with a discussion regarding personal communication styles. Prior to the discussion, participants in the workshop were asked to comment on what type of communication style they felt they often resorted to. After, a short questionnaire was given to see if participants’ self-perception matched their general communicative style, and some participants were surprised by the results (including the writer of this review). The four styles of communication then discussed were passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive styles; assertive communication being considered the healthiest form of communication. Participants were then given scenarios to try-out different styles of communication in different scenarios. This illustrated how the different communicative styles sound in real-life scenarios. Kindall then delivered some strategies on how to engage in effective communication. Both of these communicative tactics are important for engaging disagreement or conflict in an empathetic but assertive manner. The first was reflection. Reflection is a skill that is often overlooked in disagreement or conflict; this involves the active communication that you have heard and understood what the other person is communicating. Simply put, restating what the other party in a conversation has said. This shows the person to whom you disagree that you understand and care about what they have said. When delivering one’s own feelings on a subject it is good to use what are called I-Statements. These involve stating how you feel and personalizing your message so that it is less threatening to the other party. An I-Statement is formed by saying I feel (emotion word) when (explanation). This makes your statement less general and the listener will feel more receptive to your thoughts. For instance, instead of saying, “You never really listen to anyone; you’re not listening to me now!” you might instead say, “I feel disrespected when you don’t listen to what it is I have to say.” By adopting this style of voicing your opinion you open up a conflicting party to negotiation in a way that a generalized statement might not have done. The workshop involved both asserting yourself into a conversation, and being open to what the other party has to say. Knowing which communication style you are using and being conscious of what others are saying and feeling is critical to being an effective and assertive communicator, a role we will need to use in almost every relationship we will have in our lives. Review by Jacob Checked by Lucy Are you passionate about mental health and want to support Beijing’s English speaking community? Do you want to get involved in volunteering for CandleX or attending our workshops or events? Do you have an idea for an event that you would like to see us implement? Leave a comment below, follow our account, check out our online resources, or send us an e-mail at info@candlex.cn. #mentalhealth #depression #bipolardisorder #Beijing #China #workshop #communication #keyskills

Looking for a volunteer position with a fast growing non-profit in Beijing? We are a mental health focused organziation promoting awareness for depression and bipolar disorder in Beijing. Additionally, we provide social support to the international community residing in Beijing. Characteristics of this position It's one of the most dymanic positions in the organizaiton that allows you to see the overall operation of CandleX, explore your own interests, and gives you space to develop concrete skills. Our Team You will be working with a team of 10 people from all over the world. This is a team of talents, skills, and most importantly, easy-going, supportive and fun as key characters of the engine! We value professionalism to the core! That means everyone that you will be working with has demonstrated their commitment, their problem solving skills, reliability and team spirit. You know the saying, “A little gall spoils a great deal of honey”? at least that’s what baidu tells us! So yes, we are demanding of whom we work with, even it’s a volunteer position. But once you are in, you are family. We joke, we take care of each other, and we make sure we grow together! Some of us are spare time dancers, musicians, casual comedians. So expect life to be fun working on depression! You will be busy, like happy busy. Nobody gets burnt out here. It’s simply against our mental health rule! Benefit Personal growth is our key principle. We believe an organization that gives space for personal development will grow naturally. You decide what your role is! Try it out with us: communications, graphic designs, public speaking, event organizing, partnership building, editing, coordination. None of them interests you? Create your own here! Try them all, make mistakes! Find one thing that clicks with you here! (Also, you’ve guessed it. If we don’t offer money, we’d better offer something right?!) Job Description #Beijing #volunteer #mentalhealth #china

Want to use your networking skills to help raise funds for a growing mental health charity, Candlex? We are looking for a passionate mental health advocate to come and help us fundraise so that we can deliver more targeted mental health programs to reach those in need. We are a mental health focused organization promoting awareness for depression and bipolar disorder in Beijing. Additionally, we provide social support to the international community residing in Beijing. CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS POSITION It is one of the most rewarding positions in the organization, which allows you to work with a variety of stakeholders and individuals. Through this position, you will be able to enhance your professional skills and have a direct impact on the organization’s growth. OUR TEAM You will be working with a team of 10 people from all over the world. This is a team of talents, skills, and most importantly, easy-going, supportive and fun as key characters of the engine! We value professionalism to the core! That means everyone that you will be working with has demonstrated their commitment, their problem solving skills, reliability and team spirit. You know the saying, “A little gall spoils a great deal of honey”? At least that is what Baidu tells us! So yes, we are demanding of whom we work with, even it is a volunteer position. But once you are in, you are family. We joke, we take care of each other, and we make sure we grow together! Some of us are spare time dancers, musicians, casual comedians. So expect life to be fun working on depression! You will be busy, like happy busy. Nobody gets burn out here. It’s simply against our mental health rule! BENEFIT Personal growth is our key principle. We believe an organization that gives space for personal development will grow naturally. What if you become interested in other roles? Try it out with us: communications, graphic designs, public speaking, event organizing, partnership building, editing, and coordination. None of them interests you? Create your own here later on! Try them all, make mistakes! Find one thing that clicks with you here! (Depending on your experience and skill sets, this position can be a paid position) JOB DESCRIPTION (please click to view)

Want to use your writing skills for a growing mental health charity, Candlex? We are a mental health focused organization promoting awareness for depression and bipolar disorder in Beijing. Additionally, we provide social support to the international community residing in Beijing. CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS POSITION This position gives you a platform to write various articles for CandleX, from newsletter posts, to people’s stories. It also gives you a platform to build your connection with local and foreign media in Beijing, which allows you to work with a variety of stakeholders and individuals. Through this position, you will be able to enhance your professional skills. OUR TEAM You will be working with a team of 10 people from all over the world. This is a team of talents, skills, and most importantly, easy-going, supportive and fun as key characters of the engine! We value professionalism to the core! That means everyone that you will be working with has demonstrated their commitment, their problem solving skills, reliability and team spirit. You know the saying, “A little gall spoils a great deal of honey”? At least that is what Baidu tells us! So yes, we are demanding of whom we work with, even it is a volunteer position. But once you are in, you are family. We joke, we take care of each other, and we make sure we grow together! Some of us are spare time dancers, musicians, casual comedians. So expect life to be fun working on depression! You will be busy, like happy busy. Nobody gets burn out here. It’s simply against our mental health rule! BENEFIT Personal growth is our key principle. We believe an organization that gives space for personal development will grow naturally. What if you become interested in other roles? Try it out with us: communications, graphic designs, public speaking, event organizing, partnership building, editing, and coordination. None of them interests you? Create your own here later on! Try them all, make mistakes! Find one thing that clicks with you here! (Also, you’ve guessed it. If we don’t offer money, we’d better offer something right?!) JOB DESCRIPTION (please click to view)

I have secret. I have called a depression support line before. It was one of those moments that I felt the utmost despair that depression can bring. I could only imagine the person on the other side of the phone. I could talk to him, and I knew I was not burdening him. When I met Kate, when she interviewed to apply for a volunteer position with CandleX, I was intrigued by her experience as a mental health support line volunteer. Here is her reflection about providing help to the callers. I’d like to take the chance to thank all help line volunteers who have given a hug to a soul by being with them through difficult moments. - Xiaojie Author | Kate Editor | Xiaojie, Mara It’s 2:00 am and I hear the phone ring. Like any time when I get woken up in the middle of the night, I feel confused and kind of annoyed. I feel especially confused when I realise that this is not my bed. Then suddenly, it’s all clear. It’s my first night volunteering at a mental health support line and that ringing noise means this is my first call! The five or so steps to the phone seem so long and I am feeling really nervous. I’ve role-played this situation so many times in volunteer training but this is a real caller. What if I mess up? My co-volunteer and I pick up the phones together- I will talk and she’ll listen and step in if needed, most likely the caller will never hear her. Then I hear the caller’s voice. Instantly I feel a sense of calm rush over me. It’s not about me or my nerves anymore it’s just about being present and listening. During this first call, like many I would take as a phone line volunteer, the caller talked to me about their self-harm and depression. Hearing callers talking about depression had a big impact on me, especially hearing about the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness callers often felt. I went on to volunteer for the next two years, only stopping when I left university and moved to Beijing. Like many universities in the UK, mine had a Nightline, a phone line open through the night (8:00pm-8:00am) for students to call if they were experiencing mental health difficulties, challenging life events or just wanted to talk. Although many calls centred on depression, people called about a huge variety of topics including: anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, study stress, relationship problems, coming to terms with and exploring their sexuality, homesickness, and, of course, prank callers who just wanted to waste your time. To become a volunteer you had to complete a training course where you learned the importance of being non-judgemental- not giving our opinions, non-advisory - not giving advice or suggestions, and confidential- not talking about what specific callers had discussed. It’s not easy following these policies as a volunteer, especially when people ask you directly- what should I do? What do you think? But they are really important as volunteers don’t have the necessary training and knowledge to give advice like a professional. It’s easy to see these policies as very limiting, but really they are there to help you listen and, where appropriate, help the caller evaluate their own options and thoughts for themselves - so as not to be just another voice telling them what to do. When someone feels they are alone with a mental health problem, just being heard and having their emotions recognized can mean everything. This means that just listening can be really powerful. I have adopted this non-advisory approach in my real life. Now, when a friend comes to talk to me I try to resist rushing to give my opinion or advice and give them lots of time to express what is going on in their own words. I try not to ask leading questions like, “Did that make you feel angry?” and ask more open questions like “How did that make you feel?” Finally, before giving my advice and explaining what I think they should do, I often ask what solutions or options they have considered. Then I talk through those options with them. I am not saying I talk to my friends like a stranger on a phone line but I have learned the value of listening, particularly active listening. Active listening is a technique often used in mental health counselling but also promoted in businesses and conflict resolution. For anyone with friends and family with mental health problems learning to listen actively can help ensure your loved one feels heard and understood. How often when you are in a conversation do you feel like you are just waiting to reply? Active listening is about focusing on really understanding what the other person is saying and responding to show the speaker you understand. This means giving your full focus to what the person is saying by eliminating distractions for example by trying to find a quiet place to talk, sitting with your hands still, not fidgeting, and stopping other tasks. As you are listening and analysing information it is important to respond to show you’re listening. This can be through non-verbal responses such as maintaining eye contact and making noises like “mmmhmm” that show that you are listening; and verbal responses like paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is when you take details of what the person has said and reflect it back to them for clarification, not necessarily using the same words but the main points of what they have said. Such as, “It sounds like your new medication is helping but also making it really difficult for you at work.” This shows the speaker you are listening and can also help you check your understanding is correct. I found using these active listening techniques to not only be really helpful as a volunteer, but also in my personal life. I think we often underestimate the power of listening. Focussing on your own listening skills can help us support a loved one with mental health difficulties. Source: Katherine Hurst, www.thelawofattraction.com The flipside of learning the importance of listening was that I also saw the importance of sharing. A problem shared might not be a problem halved, but experience from the phone line has shown me that talking openly about difficult emotions can really help. So many callers would start calls in a highly distressed state and end the call much more calmly, seeming to be more focused on their possible options and next steps forward. This showed me first-hand the importance of having a safe space to verbalise what you’re feeling. It’s sad that for so many of us it is difficult to find space in our lives to talk frankly about mental health without fear of being judged. That’s why I was so excited to find CandleX in Beijing, which despite taking a totally different approach to mental health, still creates an oasis where talking about mental health difficulties is not something to be ashamed of. For anyone going through a difficult life event or mental health problem I would encourage them to find someone trusted they can talk with. This person could be your doctor, a mental health professional such as a counsellor, someone from your faith, or a close friend or family member. Finding the right words to talk about negative emotions can be so difficult. I often admired the courage of callers for being brave enough to talk really honestly about the most difficult things in their lives. Furthermore, callers often delayed sharing their experiences because they worried about being a burden to their friends or family. But no one chooses to have a mental health problem, and no one should feel guilty for getting the help they need to start their recovery, or have to face a mental health problem alone. EVENTS In order to heal and build resilience, we strongly encourage you to attend our CandleX events: CandleX Rooftop yoga Travel to Grow- National Holiday to Thailand CANDLEX'S RESOURCES CandleX Classroom DEPRESSION STORIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY CandleX Column | My Story with Depression A CANDLEX PRODUCTION ON DEPRESSION The Tiny Little Box | A Documentary on Depression #Beijing

To live a fulfilled life, one must be mentally healthy. Our mental resilience is essential to our holistic wellbeing, especially when “life” hits hard. We all go through hard times, whether we are rich or poor, smart or average, married or not. For people without enough reserves to approach them skillfully, those hard times become manifested as depression, while others go through it with the faith that it will pass. If you’ve read our Classroom webpage, you’ll understand that Psychological Factors play a vital role in mental health. “Mental Filter”, “Over-generalization”, “Emotional reasoning”, “Labeling”,and etc all have a high co-relation with mental disorders. Throughout the 2 years we’ve been working to raise awareness, we’ve been promoting “mindfulness” as a foundation practice to fill up your tank of resilience. “I struggled to make it a regular practice in life for years, until I went to Thailand just for mindfulness. Sometimes, you have to take yourself out of your routine to welcome a new habit” Xiaojie said. “It turned out to be my turning point in life” For those of you who are preparing yourself for a greater quality of life, we recommend you join our National Holiday Thailand Mindfulness Trip (Travel to Grow) hosted by Lean in MBA (remark: this is not a CandleX event). Invited by their founder, Curr, Xiaojie will facilitate this 8-day trip for Mind Detox, mindfulness practice and self-development in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In order to grow we need to plan, commit and get ready for hard work. It works miracles when you devote yourself to an intensive self-development program starting from getting to know yourself. We want to make that happen for you by offering you this opportunity in Chiang Mai Thailand. Every morning, you’ll wake up early for yoga practice. Every day, you’ll discover something new about yourself through our daily workshops that are tailored to open our hearts, heal our wounds and cultivate tools to deal with difficult emotions. Every night, you’ll go to bed with a love and kindness meditation practice.

Xiaojie Qin Founder and Executive Director of CandleX To my dearest CandleXers, The last time I wrote a personal email to CandleX’s followers and friends was about July 2016. When I first started CandleX, I used to write a newsletter that was sent out to everyone who had ever been in contact with us. Sometimes, it was my story, Sometimes, it was about our new initiatives, Other times, it was about my reflections on life. The first friends of CandleX were an intimate group made up of my own dear friends. Ayutthaya, Thailand 2017 Then, I paused, Because things started to push this #20 email back, Again and again, For a year now! In two years, We have grown from a team of 1 to a team of 12, We have progressed from working on one project at a time, To tackling countless projects at the same time. We went from only communicating via email, To managing a website, WeChat, and other social platforms. We went from working by ourselves, To working with partners. I haven’t ever designed a clear path for CandleX to follow, Rather, I envision a way the world could be. This vision has been leading me Along a path where opportunities present themselves, And contacts with people who share this vision are made. It’s been a journey of excitement, fulfilment, creativity, appreciation, and life changing moments Bankgok, Thailand 2017 Flowers and Photo credit: Wild Cherry I’ve been constantly working, constantly. Many nights, I work till bedtime. Many days, I am just trying my best to cross things off my calendar. Many times, I am busy checking in with everyone else around me on how they are feeling. Many moments, I think about my bucket list, I feel like it’s thousands of miles away from me. Then, one thing happened, I took a break the other day, I had no idea. My body and mind seemed to have a spot of emptiness and disconnection, It made me anxious. How can I find myself in such discomfort, while I am simultaneously energized, inspired, and thankful? Pour le cube : suivez les flèches I still don’t have a full explanation. However, It reminds me of the rule of thumb I established for our team Ayutthaya, Thailand 2017 Don’t try to carry the world on your shoulders, There are always going to be people who need help. Don’t drive yourself crazy By trying to bring sanity back to people. Don’t stray from joy, Make work fun, for you! Don’t get distracted from opportunities, Ask yourself if you are taking advantages of them, or if they are taking advantage of you! Ironically, I find it hard to live by this teaching. Maybe the hardest part is, if you teach, you have to live your teaching. –Maya Angelou Stretched and Contorted Porcelain Face Sculptures by Johnson Tsang Now CandleX is 2 years old, and where am I? Where am I when I am emotionally fatigued but still receive heavy messages asking for help? Where am I when we have so many gaps in this organization, and never enough resources? Where am I when a passing opportunity winks and my calendar is full? Where am I when I feel so full, but I have this piece of emptiness in my heart? I am running back and forth on both sides of the voices, I am excited and motivated, while being on the edge of burning out, I am feeling confused, but also I see my life with such clarity, I am being consumed and recharged at the same time. So there it is, maybe. That empty space is there To remind me to check in with myself. No running, No covering it up, No straying away. A space that I can so very much use to bring myself back. Life doesn't live in the future - where all your problems are solved and all your goals are met, It’s here, when I take some time for myself. I heard this while meditating a few days ago: Where this is no struggle, There is no strength. Inner strength comes from being challenged, from facing adversities. The pain that makes you want to throw your hands up and shout, “I give up!” can build your courage and determination. We all have the ability to stand up and Face resistance, and walk through it. If you feel you are walking into fear, Know that you already have the enduring power that you are asking for. Then say thank you, Because you know in your truest core, That your deepest struggle will produce your deepest strength. Oprah Winfrey, Meditation on Hope in Uncertain Times, Day 10: The Reality of Inner Strength. It helped me to see my struggle, confusion, and frustration in a different light. Where am I now? My fingertips found the new equilibrium as my thoughts settle, on Facebook! With Compassion, Connection and Love, Xiaojie PS: don’t miss out our rooftop yoga, every year from April to Oct. In the open air on the rooftop of a Beijing hutong, we nurture our bodies, and allow our minds to rest. There is where I go to balance myself. Join me? #beijing #mentalhealth

From an abstract idea to the first photos becoming real posters; from a few people sitting in a bar and brainstorming to having sponsors interested; from flurries of emails and WeChat group messages to meeting reports and workshop proposals…all in the effort to address the lack of awareness on bipolar disorder in Beijing. It took 6 months of work – and more is to come – but Qin Xiaojie, the Founder of CandleX and mastermind behind the MoodLaB photo exhibition, is clearly impressed by how this project has come together and touched by the help of so many partners and the growing number of project members. The initial idea of a photo exhibition has now expanded to cover a range of activities, from a subway campaign to emotional wellbeing workshops, psychoeducation and personal stories. We are proud to present CandleX Brand New 1.5 Year (2016-2017) Long Project | MoodLab: Bipoloar Disorder Awareness Campaign The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness about bipolar disorder and reduce the social stigma attached to it. The MoodLab project is composed of 7 major activities under 4 pillars of Community Education, Community Engagement, Mass Media Campaign, and Community Campaign. By inviting community members to become models and portray various moods in a series of photoshoots, we started the first activity of this project in November 2016. Joined by renowned photographer, Pere Ibañez, this is the first of its kind event for the community to experience the drastic emotions associated with bipolar disorder. A total of 20 models will be selected for the photoshoot in order to create a diverse portfolio. Pere Ibañez and Xiaojie Qin Dec 2016 As part of the project team, Enoch Li and Timothy Coghlan, wife and husband, did a shoot together in Nov 2016, portraying the desire for connection when one experiences a mental slump. Li experienced depression in 2010 and Coghlan was the one who saw her through suicide attempts and the days she felt “stuck under 50 feet of snow, with nowhere to go, and no air to breathe.” Coghlan was reminded of the love between him and his wife during the photoshoot. Indeed, one of the purposes of the photoshoots is to also help models (re)awaken their feelings and emotions with intensity.” We all have stories, and so do each of the photos we will present. In cooperation with Itgetbrighter China and Bearapy, “One Model One Story” was created to present models’ stories with mood or bipolar disorder, as well as the reasons for wanting to learn about their moods and portray them in photos. We aim to create a healthy and open conversation thereby bridging the gap between “unwell” and “well” members to share and learn about each other. To reduce social stigma, we have to face the fear of stepping out of the box. Moodlab provides that opportunity to transform and empower our community Before the photoshoots, CandleX will provide MoodlaB Emotional Wellbeing workshops for the models and community members to learn more about their own emotions and to heighten their self-awareness. In the workshops, we will explore the range of human emotions, and spectrum of moods through a learner centered approach and by using art and psychosocial education, including body movement, drawing, group reflection, and theater games to engage the participates to experience the spectrum of emotions. Additionally, mini psychoeducation elements, including personal story telling, and a psychosocial presentation will be covered. The photos will be curated into an online album, with stories, slogans and photos complied together in an art album. But beyond that, CandleX aspires to show CandleX Campaign photos in selected subway stations or bus stations around Beijing on the mental health day in October, 2017. Not everyone would understand what these art photos mean exactly, but for those that do, the words speak into the dark corners in the heart, telling them they are not alone, and we are here to help. Besides photos, we will also produce CandleX Campaign Videos on Bipolar Disorder Awareness in partnership with Ray Kenderdine, an independent film-maker. A series of videos of different length will be produced presenting the general public’s understanding of bipolar disorder in relation to the reality of bipolar disorder. The video will be used at our community events, on major media platforms, and in schools that we collaborate with. The Psychoeducational Element will be delivered in Feb 2017, in partnership with MyTherapist, China’s top mental health service provider. It’s an online two-week intensive campaign on bipolar disorder reaching over 1 million, with activities including psychoeducational article, mood disorder online participant engagement, psychoeducation live classroom with psychiatrists, and an online self-assessment tool. In addition to all these great initiatives in store between now and the end of 2017, a CandleX Interactive Art Exhibition will be held where a wider audience will be able to view and experience the stories and photos of the community. Another key event is a CandleX Mental Health Gala in April to celebrate CandleX’s 2-year anniversary, to thank all its project team, and to increase the engagement with community. Engage with MoodlaB Campaign 1. Be Our Model You can still apply to be our model and advocate for mental health until the 30th of March, 2017. Our first picture is displayed at an exhibition in Los Angeles Center for Digital Art from 8th -31st December 2016. More photos from this project will be released throughout 2017. 2. Join Emotional Wellbeing Workshop The first MoodlaB Emotional Wellbeing Workshop will take place on the 17th of December, 2016 (14.15 – 16.30) at UCCA, Beijing. The workshops will be held from Jan –June 2017. Participants for the workshops are accepted via email application to info@candlex.cn. Please email us if you have any questions. #moodlab #mentalhealth #bipolar #depression

Sample bipolar image by Pere Ibañez: “Fireworks” aims to capture the light-headed rush and sudden energy that might come during a manic episode. In 2017 CandleX is continuing its cooperation with famous Spanish photographer, Pere Ibañez, in creating a photo series to portray the moods of bipolar disorder. This first-of-its-kind event aims to give those interested an opportunity to experience the emotions associated with the illness. We started having photoshoots in November 2016, We have photographed 6 community members to date. The first picture had its premiere at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art in December 2016. More photos will be released throughout 2017. Later on selected pieces will be featured in an online photo album and interactive exhibition in Beijing. Our photographer, Pere Ibañez, is known worldwide for producing works that evoke strong feelings. Some might find his photos shocking or intimidating, but they explore aspects of human nature that too often are underplayed and trivialized. His first photographic collection, EneME, has been released in 22 countries to date. The Leftlovers and Generation Y, his second and third series, both ranked #1 in iTunes sales for art ebooks in Spain. Pere Ibañez, born and raised in Barcelona, currently lives in Beijing. What is Bipolar? Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a mood disorder that causes unusual shifts of great magnitude in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily tasks. It is a severe and debilitating mental illness, and only started to receive societal and academic attention in the past decade. The Prevalence Rate for bipolar disorder is approximately 1.1% for the population over the age of 18 (US National Institute of Mental Health). This means that at any one time, 51 million people worldwide suffer from bipolar disorder, with 12 million people in China, and 2.2 million people in the USA. What are the Activities for Models? Photos are one of the most powerful tools to present a feeling or an idea. Therefore, we would like to express the experience of bipolar with the creativity of Pere Ibañez. We are launching a second round of applications for people who are interested in modelling for these photoshoots, prior to which, we will offer an experiential workshop on emotions, with details as follows: MoodlaB Emotional Wellbeing workshops: the second workshop will take place in March, 2017 (exact day to be informed) Weekly Photoshoots: Between March to April 2017, exact timing to be liaised with model and photographer. One Model One Story: Some selected models will be asked to share their personal mental health story and experience about the project. All events are free of charge. How can I get Involved in the Photoshoot? We are looking for: People who are interested in learning more about bipolar and mood management to join us in MoodlaB workshop. People in the Beijing community with an interest in being models for photoshoots. We would require the following of models: Commitment to join our MoodlaB Emotional Wellbeing workshop on emotions and moods. Open and easygoing mind-set – models may be required to be partially nude in the photos Priority will be given to those, who have had experience with bipolar disorder – either first or second hand This is a great opportunity to learn more about mood and emotional management through the free workshop, and a chance to experience what it is like in a professional photoshoot! What’s the timeline? Apply Now Click here to fill out the online application form. All information in the application form will be kept confidential and only within the CandleX team. We will hold a short phone interview with suitable candidates. For any questions, feel free to email us at: info@candlex.cn MoodlaB: It’s more than just a photoshoot. CandleX is dedicated to increasing awareness of bipolar disorder in Beijing. For this reason, the MoodlaB Project was kicked off in Sep 2016, and will go on till the end of 2017. Moodlab photoshoot, being an important element of this project, is just one of the 9 activities that we have. #bipolar #moodlab #beijing #china #depression

While CandleX’s primary focus is spreading awarenes of depression and mental health in Beijing, we are exploring reaching more audiences outside Beijing by engaging in an interactive way. Candlex’s founder, Xiaojie, via WeChat gave a talk on mental health to the audience of WeClub, a Hong Kong based organization. There were 28 participants, 70% of which were women. Half of the participants were from Hong Kong and half from mainland. This is the first session that CandleX has conducted online for broader audiences. Xiaojie began by discussing her own personal struggle with depression and how she learned to stay healthy in mind and body. Her story segued into the creation of CandleX, where she discussed our mission and goals. The online meeting was schedule to go from 8:00pm to 9:30pm, however, due to the high interests during the Q&A section it ended up going about 30 minutes over. Overall, this was a very different experience for Xiaojie as it was conducted entirely online, with the host from WeClub facilitating the direction of the talk, and engagement of the audience. CandleX welcomes all organizations and companies interested in learning more about depression to reach out to us for a similar session. CandleX will continue to have discussions on depression, bipolar disorder and mental health; keep an eye out for our future events! #Beijing #depression #mentalhealth #china