Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing 1st April Anniversary. Depression Awareness.
Years after Leslie Cheung’s death, the brilliant superstar is still loved and remembered by his fans in Hong Kong and across the globe.
Ironically Leslie died during the peak of SARS time in 2003, due to a broken heart from a gay lover. Roman Tam Pak-sin died 6 months earlier (18th October, 2002), and Anita Mui Yim-fong died 8 months later on 30th December, 2003. A sad year indeed for Hongkongers.
Cheung jumped to his death from a window on the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on April 1, 2003, at the age of 46. A suicide note left by Cheung stated that he had been suffering from depression.
Cheung’s suicide note (translation):
“Depression! Many thanks to all my friends. Many thanks to Professor Felice Lieh-Mak (麥列菲菲) (Cheung’s last psychiatrist). This year has been so tough. I can’t stand it anymore. Many thanks to Mr. Tong. Many thanks to my family. Many thanks to Sister Fei (沈殿霞). In my life I have done nothing bad. Why does it have to be like this?”
In a 2012 interview, Cheung’s eldest sister, Ophelia, stated Cheung was diagnosed with clinical depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. She said that reporters were frequently found outside of her brother’s home which hampered his ability to get to his doctor’s facility. Thus, he would come over to her house to consult with his doctor.
He would ask his sister, “Why am I depressed? I have money and so many people love me.” He was reluctant to take medication for his depression.
His 1984 hit song Monica was voted as Hong Kong’s “Song of the Century”
Click here to watch Monica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdx9eFjN7W4
Updated: 1st April 2020.
If you have suicidal thoughts, call
International Suicide Hotlines
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11 Chinese Stars who had gone too soon (4 committed suicide): In Memory & Suicide Awareness
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