Sometimes not being able to communicate as freely as you used to at home can be a major source of depression for expats. By Erik Nilsson of the China Daily. A lot of expat depression comes from culture shock and the sense of isolation. Learning even a few phrases can be an important step. It worked for me. Even though I knew I would never be fluent in the language of my host country, I felt more confident and less dependent on my few English-speaking friends, which went a long way towards lifting my depression. Practical advice, but worth following.