Death is truly a heavy topic. Every time it comes up, I feel a profound weight. Each encounter with it reminds me sharply of how fragile life is.
Perhaps because I’ve heard too many scandals, I pay almost no attention to the entertainment industry—only occasionally glancing at it when someone around me mentions something, or when I skim Baidu’s trending list (maybe once every week or two).
Even so, I was shocked and deeply impressed by the series of remarkable achievements Coco Lee accomplished—though I only came to know her through the news of her passing.
I don’t want to蹭任何热度 (jump on the bandwagon), nor play emotional cards—but I hope when people learn of this, they can do two things:
1. Please don’t treat tragedy as gossip
Don’t casually leave negative comments or speculate, as her sister urged. Don’t guess the reasons; instead, remember her positive and optimistic attitude in facing difficulties, and remember her smile.
2. While feeling sorrow, we should also recognize and face the reality of depression
It is a real illness—not simply “I’m unhappy today because something happened.”
What’s frightening about depression is that unless the person expresses it, it’s often invisible. And due to lack of understanding, many may dismiss it as a small matter, leaving sufferers feeling unheard.
Here, I hope everyone can learn more about depression and similar illnesses. You can even take some simple self-assessments.
Also, if you have something on your mind—don’t keep it bottled up. Writing or speaking about it can bring relief. Try sharing with someone you trust.
I’ve excerpted some comments from Bilibili, and one in particular felt especially helpful—not only for those already affected, but also for prevention:
The most important rule: Follow professional medical advice. Don’t self-prescribe.
1. Cultivate a will to live, or find your own sense of meaning/value
Even very small feelings of accomplishment can pull you back—but you have to actively look for them.
If you’ve given up on yourself, it’s like trying to wake someone who’s pretending to sleep—almost impossible to help.
When you’re overwhelmed with negative emotions, finding a reason to exist is crucial—no matter how small. If it’s hard to find one in yourself, consider your responsibilities: think about how your pain or impulsive actions could hurt those around you, and remember those who’ve supported you through hard times.
2. Sunlight + walking (or travel)
I won’t elaborate too much, but sunlight does more than warm you—it activates your suprachiasmatic nucleus, helping restore a normal circadian rhythm. That leads to better sleep, and more energy to face challenges (meaning more strength to cope with negative emotions).
Walking helps shift your focus and relax. Your brain concentrates on new sights and unknown environments, pulling attention away from the “dark spots” in your life.
3. Social interaction (Talk more, don’t hold it in)
You can share your stress, unhappiness, or any negative feelings with anyone you trust. We’re not machines—we need emotional release.
As the saying goes, leave professional matters to professionals: counselors at正规 psychological institutions can be tremendously helpful.
If you’re not ready to talk, try writing your thoughts down.
“Our reality is shaped by our mind; our world reflects our heart.” Most people can learn to regulate their emotions (though those with certain mental illnesses may struggle—so self-care is important, but seek outside help when it’s hard). Many just don’t believe they have that ability.
The most dangerous thing is to keep thoughts swirling inside—writing them down can help. Days later, you might even wonder why you were so anxious or upset, and find those earlier worries almost amusing.
4. Movement (Do anything that reduces your unhappiness)
I once watched Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks explain a revealing idea: good sleep, exercise, and meditation don’t necessarily make us happy—instead, they reduce our unhappiness.
You don’t necessarily have to exercise to regulate your mood. If you’re doing it passively or half-heartedly, it might make you feel worse.
“There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand readers’ eyes.”
Just as people interpret the same thing differently, a problem can have thousands of solutions. Some are well-known, but none is the “best”—only the “most suitable.”
Since everyone’s situation is different, choose what feels most comfortable, especially activities you do spontaneously, like hobbies.
If you have no idea where to start, here are a few things you could try:
- Exercise (the simpler the better—I recommend long, slow-distance running)
- Reading (a book you’ve been interested in but never started)
- Meditation (begin with breath awareness—focus on feeling, not controlling, the breath)
- Non-Sleep Deep Rest (search “yoga nidra” on YouTube; a rest method recommended by Stanford’s Andrew Huberman, better than napping)
- Playing or learning a (new) musical instrument
- Any other hobby
In my experience, anything that fully captures your attention or allows your body (especially your mind) to completely relax can help immensely—because in those moments, you’re no longer fixated on the “dark spots.”
Finally, although I’m using Coco Lee’s passing as a moment to raise awareness about gossip attitudes (and the even worse “bystander effect”—like comments such as, “If they were really that sick, they wouldn’t be posting”) and the seriousness of depression, I genuinely feel deep sorrow over her death.
I’m grateful she existed and left us with so many brilliant works. May her optimistic spirit live on.
May we all learn to see not only the darkness in the forest, but also the faint light ahead, illuminating the path.
