"My
child has been saying that she doesn't want to go
to school recently. She gets angry at the
mention of school and locks himself in her room..." At the adolescent
mental health clinic, a mother with a worried expression sought help from
Professor Su Zhaoxia.
After Xiao Yuan (pseudonym) entered the third year of junior high school, the school and teachers suddenly tightened their requirements for academic performance. Frequent exam rankings and ever-increasing homework loads made Xiao Yuan, who was already introverted, feel overwhelmed.
Upon returning home, her parents' expectation that she "must get into a key high school" felt like an invisible mountain weighing on her heart.
Over the past six months, Xiao Yuan has gradually become depressed. She has lost interest in puzzles and TV dramas that she used to enjoy, and her favorite phrase is "It's boring." Getting up in the morning has become extremely difficult for him, and she frequently resists going to school, citing "headache" and "stomach discomfort" as reasons. Even when she forces himself to sit at the desk, she finds it hard to concentrate, and her grades have further declined. This decline in grades has exacerbated her parents' anxiety and pressure, creating a vicious cycle.
What is even more concerning is that Xiao Yuan once confided in her close friend about feeling "too exhausted to live" and "occasionally wanting to harm herself".
"When the child first came to the outpatient clinic, she kept her head down the entire time and answered only half of the questions. When it came to school, her eyes suddenly reddened and she said, 'I've tried my best, but they only look at the rankings.' At that moment, the mother was stunned beside her - it was the first time she had heard her daughter say those words."
-- Professor Su Zhaoxia recalled
After a systematic assessment by Professor Su, Xiaoyuan was diagnosed with a depressive episode accompanied by anxiety. The assessment revealed that the sudden escalation of academic pressure in junior high school, the emotional burden brought by excessive expectations from parents, and the long-term lack of effective emotional outlets jointly led to the collapse of Xiaoyuan's psychological defense.
The words "meaningless" and "don't want to go to school" she uttered were not expressions of laziness or rebellion, but typical manifestations of loss of interest and motivation in a state of depression; and the thought of "wanting to hurt herself" was a dangerous signal that must be highly vigilant against.
In response to Xiao Yuan's situation, Professor Su's team formulated a comprehensive intervention plan combining "medication, psychology, and family support":
✅ Medication: Select targeted medications to improve depression, sleep disorders, and decreased appetite, helping Xiaoyuan gradually regain psychological energy;
✅ In terms of psychological treatment: Through cognitive behavioral therapy, help her identify absolute thinking such as "If I don't do well in the exam, it's over" and "I let everyone down", and learn healthier ways of expressing emotions and coping with stress;
✅ In terms of family support: Guide parents to re-examine their expectations of their children, shifting from "focusing on scores" to "seeing the child", and transforming the family from a "second examination hall" back to a "spiritual haven".
"Many people have misunderstandings about psychiatry, thinking it is either just 'talking' or 'prescribing medication'. In fact, modern medical psychiatry is a professional discipline that integrates precise assessment, diversified psychotherapy, scientific pharmacotherapy, and long-term health management. For adolescents like Xiaoyuan who fall into depression due to academic pressure and family expectations, medication helps her restore the physiological basis for emotional regulation, psychotherapy helps her rebuild self-awareness, and family support provides her with the strongest backing - all three are indispensable."
-- Professor Su Zhaoxia
After several months of systematic intervention, Xiaoyuan's condition has significantly improved. She is now willing to communicate with her parents about school matters, and waking up in the morning is no longer as difficult. Although she still experiences occasional mood swings, she can now proactively express to her parents, "I'm a bit tired today," instead of shutting herself up.
During the latest follow-up examination, Xiaoyuan's sleep and diet gradually returned to normal, and her attention span during learning also improved.
Health Tips
If your child exhibits persistent symptoms such as persistent depression, disinterest in learning, self-doubt, and diminished interest, please seek assessment at a adolescent mental health clinic in a timely manner. Early identification and intervention are crucial to safeguarding the mental health of young people.
In response to the urgent demand for mental health diagnosis and treatment among adolescents in Hainan, the adolescent mental health outpatient department of Hainan Chengmei Hospital has specially invited senior expert Professor Su Zhaoxia to provide regular consultations on a long-term basis.
Expert Introduction
Professor Su Zhaoxia is currently a specially-appointed expert at the Youth Mental Health Clinic of Hainan Chengmei Hospital. She has been fully sponsored by the China Scholarship Council to serve as an international visiting and research scholar at the Department of Clinical Psychology, Western Michigan University, and the Institute of Mental Health, Columbia University in New York. She has delved deeply into cutting-edge academic fields and introduced advanced foreign psychotherapy techniques and new mental health concepts to China.
Medical expertise
Diagnosis and treatment of anxiety, depression, insomnia disorders, common mental and psychological issues among children and adolescents, as well as various psychosomatic diseases. Specializes in psychological intervention and comprehensive treatment for emotional and behavioral issues, learning difficulties, and family education among adolescents, with extensive clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment.
Adolescent Mental Health Clinic
The Adolescent Mental Health Clinic of Hainan Chengmei Hospital, led by Professor Su Zhaoxia, integrates high-quality resources from multiple disciplines such as psychological assessment, psychotherapy, and psychiatry, and builds a cooperation platform for outstanding mental health experts both within the island and across the country.
The outpatient department provides precise, standardized, and individualized diagnosis and treatment for adolescent psychological issues, creating a one-stop mental health service model that maximizes the savings of time and economic costs for patients and their families. It comprehensively protects the spiritual oasis of adolescents and escorts their healthy growth.
[Clinic Hours]
September 30th (Wednesday) 8:00-12:00
[Visit location]
Hainan Chengmei Hospital Seventh Clinic Area (Adolescent Mental Health Clinic)