A high school girl in her second year, diagnosed with severe depression at Anding Hospital, wants to take a leave of absence. How should she communicate with her family?

Hello, host!

I'm here to support you! I know how hard it can be to deal with a lack of understanding and support from family members, especially when you're struggling with depression. But you're not alone!

I think there are two main reasons why parents disagree with your decision, and I'm excited to share them with you!

First, there's an amazing opportunity to deepen our understanding of depression and elevate the conversation around mental health. Many people believe that children struggling with depression are simply weak or overthinking, but there's so much more to it than that!

The second issue is that they place too much emphasis on your studies and are overly anxious about your academic performance and even your future development. This is a great opportunity for you to show them that your physical and mental health is the most important thing!

I absolutely believe that as long as you tackle these two issues, communicating with parents will be a breeze!

I have a great suggestion for you! Why not ask the school counselor, the doctor, or an elderly family member with extensive knowledge and respect to educate parents about depression?

These people can also tell parents about ways to get along with children suffering from depression, as well as some precautions. And they can tell parents about the causes of depression and the harm it causes to the body and mind.

I'm sure it will get their attention!

Now, for the second question. Once they have a basic understanding of depression, you can tell them about your current situation and your next plan of action. This will help to reduce their unnecessary anxiety, which is great!

I'm thrilled to share some of my suggestions! I really hope they're helpful.

Hello, young lady. I know you're going through a rough patch and feeling pretty down. At your age, it's tough to make decisions on your own. Let's work together to figure out how to talk to your family and get them on board with you taking a break from school.

I know that depression has really affected your normal life, so I think you should take some time off from school. I know that everyone around me with depression is allowed to study at home, so I think you should be, too.

However, family members may not understand because they may think that depression is simply a bad mood, and they may also worry about your studies. At this time, it's important to show them the diagnosis report.

First, let them know that they're feeling the pressure at school and that they can also study at home.

You can also talk to your homeroom teacher at school. They should understand and ask them to help you talk to your family. If they don't understand either, you can talk to the teacher in charge of academic affairs. Be brave, this is not something that only you will encounter.

It's also important for school teachers and parents to communicate. If you let the teacher and parents talk, the parents will understand and value this more.

It's important to take subsequent learning and treatment seriously and to give yourself time to experience it. People are fluid and can change constantly.

Depression is a battle between you and your own mind. You have to keep growing and getting stronger by repeating the process of destruction and reconstruction. I suggest you watch some of your favorite childhood movies and TV shows, and I also recommend you read the book Mr. Toad Enters the Counseling Room.

I hope the OP finds happiness and their old self again.

I hope the person asking the question will be able to talk to their family about this, and I also hope that things will go well for you.

Hello there!

Give yourself a big hug! You're not alone in this, and you're loved.

You didn't mention what might be causing your depression, but you said it's recently changed from mild to severe. In this situation, if your family still doesn't understand and sends you to school without your consent, it might not be the best way to deal with your illness.

It's totally normal to feel misunderstood by your family. They might not have all the information or understanding you need, but that doesn't mean they don't love you or care about you. It's also possible that they're feeling anxious about your studies, which can make it harder for them to connect with you. It's understandable that you feel your family's lack of understanding might make your depression worse, and that their anxiety about your depression has led to a lack of communication.

How can you break out of this situation, get the help you need, and turn things around for the better? You can do it!

1. It's so important to take the initiative to communicate with your family. When you're talking to them, try to control your emotions and calmly explain how you're feeling. I really hope they can understand depression. There are so many great videos online that explain it really well. Let your family understand the pain of depression through these videos and gain their understanding and support.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Most schools have a school psychologist, who is there to help you. They can help you with the things your parents can't, like talking to the school about going back.

3. Find a professional psychological counselor. They'll give you more understanding, tolerance, and support, accompany you through this dark period of your life, help you sort out your growth experiences and real-life pressures, and find the root cause of your depression and targeted solutions.

4. Get help from the kind psychiatrist and psychologist at the hospital. Since you went to the hospital for an exam and were diagnosed with a mental illness, the psychiatrist knows more about your condition. You can ask the doctor for help when you go for a follow-up appointment. The doctor can explain the situation to your parents and help you gain their understanding.

But the good news is that you have the power to make things happen. As long as you keep a positive outlook, you can absolutely conquer this challenge!

I really hope the reply from Hongyu helps! Thanks so much for asking!