The maladies or symptoms strike without warning. Possibly, at first, the problem manifests itself in an inability to sleep well. Then the dietary problems start. Feelings of inadequacy are common. Nothing seems interesting. Life's supposed vibrancy — the laughter, the humor, the challenges — seems like a cruel joke. A sudden emotional breakdown strikes, and the person may wake up crying, or play endlessly with a smartphone.

抑郁症的种种症状，常常在不经意间悄然降临。起初，可能只是夜不能寐，辗转反侧；随后，食欲也会受到影响，变得索然无味。与此同时，自信心的流失也成为一个明显的迹象，一切似乎都失去了往日的色彩。生活原本应该是充满欢声笑语、幽默挑战的，但在抑郁症的阴霾下，却仿佛成了一个冷酷的玩笑。有时，情绪会突然崩溃，睡梦中泪流满面，或是沉迷于手机的世界无法自拔。

These are some of the symptoms of teenage depression, and most adolescents who have lived at Lyuting Home in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, are familiar with these symptoms, which have caused many of them to drop out of school.

这些症状，对于曾在浙江杭州Lyuting Home生活过的青少年们来说，并不陌生。许多孩子因为这些困扰而不得不离开学校，承受着重重的心理压力。

"Depression is a prevalent dilemma that students increasingly face across the country. We hope to turn Lyuting into a cozy, cave-like home, for those whose body and soul are in distress, to help them recover and return to normal life," Sheng Menglu, founder of the organization, says.

“抑郁症如今已经成为全国各地学生面临的共同难题。”该组织的创始人盛梦璐女士感慨道，“我们希望能将Lyuting打造成一个充满温馨的避风港，为那些心灵受伤的孩子提供一份关爱与支持，帮助他们重新找回健康，回归正常的生活。”

"Our basic rule is simple: No violence, no judgment, and respect for diversity," the 31-year-old woman says, adding that under the rules, everyone's feelings, behavior and ideas are welcomed, and there are no taboo subjects.

这位31岁的女士进一步解释说：“我们的原则很简单：拒绝暴力，摒弃偏见，尊重每一个个体的独特性。”她强调，“在这里，我们欢迎每一个孩子的感受、行为和想法，没有任何话题是禁忌。”

A recent survey showed that more than 70 percent of the adolescents who lived in Lyuting for more than a month responded that their temporary residence had empowered them to feel connected to their community and provided a sense of security.

根据最近的一项调查数据显示，超过七成在Lyuting Home居住超过一个月的青少年表示，这个临时住所不仅增强了他们与社区的联系，更为他们带来了前所未有的安全感。

Since its establishment in October 2021, the four-story home has served about 80 teenagers and their families through its companion program. Under the program, companion workers, usually in their 20s or 30s with a background in psychology, develop a healthy bond with the adolescents, providing care and love, dealing with their emotional dilemmas and helping them identify and express their feelings.

自2021年10月成立以来，这座四层楼的儿童之家已经通过陪伴计划为约80名青少年及其家庭提供了温暖的帮助。这些陪伴者大多是二三十岁的心理学专业人士，他们与孩子们建立起深厚的情感纽带，用关爱和耐心帮助他们走出情感困境，学会表达自己的感受。

"Over the past two years, some organizations have consulted us about our service model and we hope it can be expanded, leveraging greater social forces to help more people in need," Sheng says.

盛女士表示：“近年来，已有不少机构向我们咨询这一服务模式，我们希望能将其推广开来，借助更广泛的社会力量，为更多需要帮助的人带来希望。”

Depression and anxiety disorders trouble nearly 30 million adolescents across the country, according to the 2022 blue book on national depression released by People's Daily. Among them, 2 million are estimated to have dropped out of school due to psychological distress.

据《人民日报》发布的《2022年全国抑郁症蓝皮书》显示，全国有近3000万青少年受到抑郁症和焦虑症的困扰。其中，因心理问题而辍学的青少年数量更是高达200万。

"After they receive therapy in a hospital or special school, most of these teenagers are trapped at home, which may not provide a good environment for recovery," she says.

盛女士还提到：“许多青少年在医院或特殊学校接受治疗后，往往被困在家中，这样的环境并不利于他们的康复。”

编辑 | ETTBL商务英语翻译

翻译｜Romola