The recent incident in China where a student suffered a mental breakdown after watching horror film during a self-study session has ignited a nationwide discussion about mental health, school responsibility, and the psychological risks associated with exposure to disturbing media.
The case, which eventually reached the courts, resulted in compensation for the affected student and raised important questions about how schools handle unsupervised activities and content viewed within educational settings. The tragedy not only underscores the vulnerability of young minds but also highlights the need for stronger mental health safeguards and media awareness among students and educators alike.
Mental Breakdown After Watching Horror Film
The incident took place in October 2023 at a school in China during what was supposed to be a routine self-study session. The teacher in charge of the class was on leave, leaving students free to decide how to spend the period. In what initially seemed like an innocent and collective decision, the class agreed to watch a movie together. Both the class head teacher and all students consented to the idea, and a horror movie was eventually chosen. The name of the film was not revealed in official reports, but its psychological impact proved catastrophic for one particular student.
Shortly after viewing the film, the student began to exhibit worrying symptoms. While chatting online with their mother later that same day, they showed signs of speech difficulties and mental confusion. Concerned by the sudden behavioral changes, the mother rushed the student to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed them with acute and transient psychotic disorder—a severe mental condition characterized by a sudden break from reality, delusions, and hallucinations.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, psychosis is not a single illness but a symptom complex that can manifest as a result of various triggers including trauma, stress, or exposure to disturbing stimuli. It causes individuals to lose touch with reality, leading to false beliefs or sensory experiences that are not real. The student in question reportedly had no prior history of mental illness, making the onset of psychosis all the more alarming.
The parents quickly attributed the mental breakdown to the horror movie, arguing that the school had failed in its duty of care to protect students’ psychological well-being. What was intended to be a casual entertainment break during self-study became a deeply traumatic experience that changed the student’s life. The parents filed a complaint against the school, initiating a legal process that would question both the responsibility of educational institutions and the risks of unregulated media exposure in classrooms.
Legal Proceedings and Court Ruling
As the case unfolded in the Hengzhou People’s Court, both sides presented strong arguments. The parents insisted that the school bore direct responsibility for the incident, as the film viewing occurred on school premises and was approved by the head teacher. They claimed the institution had failed to provide a safe and appropriate learning environment, leading to their child’s psychological harm.
The school, however, attempted to deflect liability. It argued that the student’s mental breakdown may have been due to a “special physical constitution” or an “underlying illness” that the institution could not have foreseen. School representatives maintained that the decision to watch the movie was made collectively and that no coercion was involved. They also highlighted that the student had voluntarily participated in the activity.
Importantly, the school revealed during proceedings that it had purchased liability insurance covering more than 5,000 students, with an individual coverage limit of up to 500,000 yuan (approximately US$70,000). This insurance was designed to address accidents or unforeseen injuries occurring within the school environment.
The court carefully examined the circumstances, including the voluntary nature of the activity, the level of teacher involvement, and the fact that the film was approved by school authorities. Ultimately, the Hengzhou People’s Court ruled partially in favor of the student and their family. The institution was found to be 30 percent responsible for the incident and ordered to pay 9,182 yuan (approximately US$1,300) in compensation through its insurance provider.
Read : 19-Year-Old Ohio Influencer Noah Thomas Charged After Jumping Into Pittsburgh Zoo Elephant Enclosure
The court acknowledged that while the student’s participation had been voluntary, the school failed to consider the potential psychological risks of exposing young individuals to frightening and disturbing content. The ruling emphasized that schools have a duty not only to ensure physical safety but also to safeguard students’ mental and emotional health during all school-approved activities.
This decision has since been widely discussed in Chinese legal and educational circles as a benchmark for how psychological harm cases are treated within the country’s legal system. It also underscores a growing awareness in China about the importance of mental health, especially among young people facing increasing academic pressure and social stress.
The Psychological Impact of Horror Films on Young Minds
While horror films are popular for their adrenaline-inducing thrills, psychological experts have long warned about their potential to trigger anxiety, trauma, and even psychosis in vulnerable individuals. For some people, especially adolescents whose brains are still developing, exposure to graphic or psychologically disturbing scenes can have long-lasting effects on mental stability.
According to psychologists, horror movies operate on the brain’s fear circuitry, particularly the amygdala, which processes emotional responses to perceived threats. When the brain cannot distinguish between fictional and real danger, it can release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, leading to intense fear reactions. In extreme cases, these reactions may cause prolonged anxiety or trauma-related symptoms, especially if the viewer is predisposed to sensitivity or has limited coping mechanisms.
Adolescents, who are often curious but still emotionally immature, may underestimate the psychological toll of such exposure. In this particular case, the student’s reaction to the horror film might have been compounded by environmental stressors such as academic pressure or lack of adult supervision. The sudden onset of psychosis, therefore, can be viewed as the convergence of psychological vulnerability and environmental triggers.
Medical literature describes “acute and transient psychotic disorder” as a short-term but severe episode of psychosis that can be precipitated by stress or emotional shock. Symptoms typically include confusion, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and emotional instability. While many patients recover fully after treatment, the experience can be deeply distressing and leave lasting psychological scars.
The case also raises concerns about how schools manage students’ emotional exposure in non-academic settings. With increasing access to digital media, young people are often consuming content that would once have been deemed inappropriate or disturbing for their age group. Without proper guidance or supervision, even seemingly harmless recreational activities like watching a movie can spiral into unintended psychological harm.
Educational psychologists argue that teachers and administrators must be better trained to assess the potential risks of certain films, games, or digital activities before allowing them in a school setting. They emphasize that entertainment content should be age-appropriate and screened for potentially harmful themes such as violence, supernatural horror, or extreme fear stimuli. The incident also highlights the importance of providing mental health education that helps students recognize and manage emotional distress.
The aftermath of the case has sparked widespread debate across Chinese social media platforms, where netizens expressed mixed reactions. Many sympathized with the student and criticized the school’s oversight. “Honestly, they should not have shown a horror film,” one user wrote. “There are so many classic films to choose from, and this one was even approved by the teacher. The school definitely bears some responsibility.” Others, however, argued that the student’s reaction was extreme and that holding schools accountable for every psychological outcome could set a difficult precedent.
Nonetheless, the incident has prompted discussions about the broader cultural attitudes toward mental health in China. In recent years, China has made significant strides in promoting mental health awareness, but stigmas around psychological disorders persist. The case serves as a reminder that even ordinary school activities can have profound consequences if mental well-being is not prioritized.
Educational institutions are now being urged to implement stricter content review procedures and to include psychological safety as a formal aspect of student welfare policies. Moreover, mental health professionals have called for greater integration of counseling services within schools, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where access to psychological care remains limited.
The conversation also extends to the insurance and legal sectors. The school’s reliance on liability insurance to cover the damages points to a growing trend in Chinese education, where institutions seek to mitigate risks through financial mechanisms rather than preventive measures. While insurance coverage can provide compensation after the fact, experts stress that proactive steps—such as teacher training, mental health monitoring, and responsible content curation—are far more effective in preventing such tragedies.
The case has also encouraged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s media consumption, both at home and at school. With streaming platforms and social media making it easy to access horror and thriller content, the line between appropriate and harmful entertainment has become increasingly blurred. Parents are being advised to engage in open discussions with their children about how certain media can affect emotions, sleep patterns, and mental health.
In conclusion, the mental breakdown of a Chinese student after watching a horror film during a self-study session serves as a sobering example of how easily entertainment can cross into psychological harm when oversight is lacking. The court’s decision to hold the school partially accountable underscores the growing recognition that mental health is a vital component of student welfare, deserving of the same attention as physical safety. The incident has resonated deeply across China, sparking debates about educational responsibility, media ethics, and the fragility of young minds in a world saturated with intense and often unsettling content.