Foreigners are leaving China. The once-magical Middle Kingdom has lost some of its sheen for rising numbers of expats, prompting a return home, or another destination. Among their many reasons for leaving China is expat depression.
外国人正在离开中国。 曾经神奇的中王国因外籍人士数量的增加而失去了一些光澤，促使人们返回家园或前往其他目的地。 他们离开中国的众多原因之一是外籍人士的抑郁症。
Back in 2018, the number of foreigners in Nanjing stood at a tad less than 19,000, according to data from the Exit and Entry Administration Department of Nanjing Public Security Bureau. Today, the expat population is closer to 16,000.
根据南京市公安局出入境管理处的数据，早在2018年，南京的外国人人数就不到19,000人。 今天，外籍人士人口接近16,000人。
In the intervening time, China has changed greatly, again. The biggest difference today is that it is now much harder to do business in China. This is not just true for the expats; it’s across the board.
在这段时间里，中国再次发生了巨大的变化。 今天最大的区别是，现在在中国做生意要困难得多。 這不僅適用於外籍人士；而且是全面的。
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Yet it is true that foreigners in China, on the other hand, are in an unusual situation. We regularly will have local people take photos of us. We are often told that we are too old, too fat or too dark. This can take a toll. As Hangzhou-based blog Life Behind the Wall points out, “Even the strongest person, will have lower self-esteem with dealing with that every time [they] walk outside, or go to the grocery store”.
然而，另一方面，在中國的外國人確實處於不尋常的境地。 我们会定期让当地人给我们拍照。 我们经常被告知，我们太老、太胖或太黑。 这可能会有人吃大的。 正如总部位于杭州的博客《墙后生活》所指出的，“即使是最强壮的人，每次[他们]出门或去杂货店时，都会降低自尊”。
Stress and low job satisfaction are often cited as key reasons for an early departure from China. Those who remain still struggle daily with cross-cultural adaptation and many operate at decreased capacity. As a result, depression is a lot more widespread than many people realise.
压力和工作满意度低经常被认为是提前离开中国的关键原因。 那些仍然在努力跨文化适应的人每天都在挣扎，许多人在能力下降的情況下工作。 因此，抑鬱症比許多人意識到的要普遍得多。
Trailing Spouses Prone to Depression
落后的配偶容易抑郁
As explored in this publication’s article, “Expat Nightmares; Cross-Cultural Adaptation“, it is the spouses of executives who have been assigned to China that can have the hardest time adjusting. Some of these “trailing spouses” (not necessarily women) had very strong professional lives that they were almost forced into giving up for the sake of the “once in a lifetime opportunity” that China supposedly represents.
正如本出版物《外籍人士的噩梦；跨文化适应》一文中所探讨的，被分配到中国的高管的配偶可能最难适应。 其中一些“伴侣”（不一定是女性）有着非常强大的职业生活，为了中国所谓的“千载难逢的机会”，他们几乎被迫放弃。
Without their circle of friends and isolated in a place that seems brimming with hostility, depression abounds. Alcoholism is commonplace. Some slide into drug use and gambling; the latter being particularly accessible.
没有他们的朋友圈，被孤立在一个似乎充满了敌意的地方，抑郁情绪比比皆是。 酗酒很常见。 有些人滑入吸毒和赌博；后者尤其容易获得。
Depression Fuelled by Lack of Friends
缺乏朋友助长了抑郁症
For foreigners in situations with little to no contact with other expats, the lack of friends becomes the bigger issue. For one, concepts of friendship in China are very different to those in the west. Friends in China do a lot less “hanging out” than in western countries. Generally, friends will only contact each other when they need something, and likewise will be there for each other when needed. This correspondent himself has gone for more than a decade without seeing several Chinese friends.
对于与其他外籍人士几乎没有接触的外国人来说，缺乏朋友成为更大的问题。 第一，中国的友谊概念与西方的友谊概念截然不同。 与西方国家相比，中国的朋友“闲逛”要少得多。 一般来说，朋友只有在需要什么时才会互相联系，同样在需要时也会互相陪伴。 这位记者本人已经十多年没有见过几个中国朋友了。
This coupled with the fact that foreigners in China are aware their time here is limited means that few form true friendships with local people.
再加上在中国的外国人意识到他们在这里的时间有限，这意味着很少有人与当地人建立真正的友谊。
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It is also true that in China, disillusionment breeds depression. Away from the language barrier, some of life’s daily difficulties can easily seem overwhelming. Accessing the western Internet, shopping for vegetables or transportation are frustrations that can mount up.
在中国，幻灭滋生抑郁症也是事实。 远离语言障碍，生活中的一些日常困难很容易让人感到不知所措。 访问西方互联网、购买蔬菜或交通工具可能会增加挫折感。
Yet, it is also far too easy to blame China.
然而，指责中国也太容易了。
Reality Under Trying Situations (RUTS)
试探情况下的现实（RUTS）
For those feeling the strain, remember that you are not alone. And neither is the problem new. Writing for this publication’s very first issue in 2010, Cheryl Malloy, professional and personal life coach, said, “This is your problem and you have to own it. The problem is not China, or your job, or your friends (or lack of); it is your problem and only you can solve it. You cannot change what is external and you will certainly not change China!”.
对于那些感到压力的人，请记住，你并不孤单。 这个问题也不是新的。 2010年，专业和私人生活教练Cheryl Malloy在为本出版物的第一期撰稿时说：“这是你的问题，你必须拥有它。 问题不在于中国，也不在于你的工作，也不在于你的朋友（或缺乏）；而是你的问题，只有你才能解决它。 你无法改变外部的东西，你肯定不会改变中国！”。
If you do find yourself with any form of depression, it may also be because you are stuck in a rut. A few easy new directions are the cure.
如果你确实发现自己患有任何形式的抑郁症，那也可能是因为你陷入了困境。 一些简单的新方向是治疗方法。
- Pick up a hobby. Study how to play a traditional Chinese instrument or how to write calligraphy.
- Speak to friends back home. This can help remind us why we chose the adventure that is China.
- Eat Day Lily (干百合). The fragrant flower that blooms once a day is known to effectively treat tumours and ulcers, conjunctivitis, insomnia and depression.
- Think positive. Molloy says, “Decide today that you are not going to be stuck in a rut, that your life is worth more excitement and success and that you can make it happen”.
Finally, it is worth remembering the so-called trailing spouses are the ones who have the most to gain from a new assignment. They have the time to properly explore their new home, to make friends with local people, to join clubs and societies full of those in the same predicament.
最后，值得记住的是，所谓的落后配偶是从新任务中获得最大收益的人。 他们有时间好好探索他们的新家，与当地人交朋友，加入充满同样困境的俱乐部和社团。
Resources for Expats Suffering from Depression
患有抑郁症的外籍人士的资源
China’s rapid development may be overwhelming at times, but it has also brought help closer to hand. Nanjing is lacking when it comes to counseling services of any kind for the stressed out expat but Shanghai is not.
中国的快速发展有时可能让人不知所措，但它也使帮助更近。 南京缺乏为压力大的外籍人士提供任何形式的咨询服务，但上海则不是。
The Shanghai International Mental Health Association provides mental health services to international communities in Shanghai. Their website lists therapists of all nationalities with practices in Shanghai and their expertise.
上海国际心理健康协会为上海的国际社会提供心理健康服务。 他们的网站列出了在上海执业的所有国籍的治疗师及其专业知识。
Lifeline Shanghai offers a free, confidential and anonymous support service from 10 am until 10 pm, daily. Call them on 400 821 1215 or visit their website to contact them via online chat.
Lifeline 上海每天上午10点至晚上10点提供免费、保密和匿名的支持服务。 拨打400 821 1215联系他们，或访问他们的网站，通过在线聊天与他们联系。
Alcoholics Anonymous meet at the Alano Club at 200 Zhenning Lu in Puxi.
匿名酗酒者在浦西镇宁路200的阿拉诺俱乐部见面。
Closer to hand are also Nanjing International Club and the Nanjing Foreign Affairs Service Association.
南京国际俱乐部和南京外交事务服务协会也近在手边。
