Friday, April 7, marks World Health Day, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is using the occasion to encourage people with depression to talk about their condition.

This year’s theme is “Depression: Let’s Talk,” which aims to spur patients to emerge from the shadows to get help. 

“Many people suffer from depression but no one talks about it,” WHO China representative Dr. Bernhard Shwartlander said. “There are not enough of these services available and of course we are working with the national health and family planning commission to identify the areas where there is a special gap.”

In the last decade, cases of depression have surged by nearly a fifth, according to WHO data. Currently, approximately 350 million people are affected by depression worldwide, with 54 million of them in China alone.

Depression is a disease often characterized by periods of persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities one normally enjoys. Symptoms range from energy loss and a change of appetite, to anxiety or feelings of worthlessness. But, most worryingly, severe depression can lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Though professional therapy may not be universally available yet, there are more non-profit organizations getting involved and raising awareness.

CandleX, an NGO based in Beijing, is trying to provide an inclusive, confidential and non-judgmental support community to combat the stigmatization of the disorder. And according to its founder, more patients are now willing to share their stories, which is good for recovery. 

"Education is crucial, especially in schools. It is just like physical illness. I think it’s harder in China due to the traditional values that teaches us not to express our feelings as much and just push through,” said Xiao Jieqin, founder of CandleX. “But I am seeing a growing number of people coming to our sharing events...people are becoming more aware of this.”