Renowned singer CoCo Lee dies at 48

Renowned singer-songwriter CoCo Lee died on Wednesday at the age of 48. The Hong Kong-based singer attempted suicide at home on Sunday and had been in coma since then.

The news was posted by the singer's sister Nancy Lee on her Sina Weibo account on Wednesday night. It quickly went viral garnering huge public attention.

The pop diva and songwriter, who was born in Hong Kong, suffered from depression in recent years and attempted suicide on Sunday, the post said, adding that she was taken to hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on Wednesday.

"This year was supposed to mark CoCo Lee's 30th debut anniversary in the music industry. Throughout her 29-year career, she not only brought us endless joy and surprises with her powerful songs and dance performances, but also worked tirelessly to pave the way for Chinese artists in the international music scene," the post said. "We're immensely proud of her accomplishments."

Fans expressed their condolences under the post.

As a prominent star, CoCo Lee released a number of albums, and many of her songs became popular. For example, she sang the song A Love Before Time for the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon that took her to the Oscar stage in 2001.

World Health Organization figures show depression is a growing public health concern worldwide. About 264 million people around the world have depression, and more women are affected than men. In China, depression affects 54 million people and is one of the leading causes of suicide.

Unlike usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life, depression may develop into a serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, the WHO says.

Feeling black and blue