Li, a young Chinese woman from Henan province, suffered severe psychological damage after being scolded by her supervisor at work. according to South China Morning PostLee became catatonic and stopped eating, drinking, walking or engaging in conversation. This disturbing incident started a month ago when her team leader scolded her, causing her to become unhappy and eventually completely shut down emotionally and physically.
As Lee’s condition deteriorated, his physical abilities also declined drastically. His family reported that if they removed the pillow from under his head, he would hang in the air and be unable to support himself. Furthermore, she lost control over basic bodily functions, requiring constant assistance from her loved ones to remind her to use the toilet.
Dr. Jia Dehuan, Li’s physician at Zhengzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, described his condition as that of a “wooden” figure, with no movement or reaction. According to Dr. Jia, Li was suffering from a catatonic stupor, which is a severe symptom of depression, including immobility, unresponsiveness, loss of motor control, and withdrawal from reality. This rare and extreme manifestation of depression is often triggered by intense emotional trauma or stress.
The doctor said that Lee had an introverted personality and struggled to open up with people around him, which ultimately made his condition more severe. Under Dr. Jia’s care, Lee received the treatment and support he needed to recover from this serious condition.
The disturbing incident has sparked widespread concern and debate on mainland Chinese social media. Users expressed shock and sympathy at Lee’s ordeal and outrage over bullying and stress in the workplace. One user wrote, “If your job is too demanding, it is better to leave the job than to suffer silently.”
Another commented, “She was torturing herself because of her boss’s actions.”
A recent survey by the Chinese Psychological Society has highlighted the worrying state of workplace mental health in China. The findings revealed that 4.8% of employees experienced depression at work, while 80% reported feelings of arousal at work. Additionally, according to Shangguan News (2023), 60% of respondents cited anxiety, and nearly 40% displayed symptoms of depression.
The survey results highlight the serious issue of workplace mental health in China, where high work demands, limited job security, poor work-life balance and inadequate communication contribute to the problem.
