Physician who battled own demons shares his experiences to dispel stigma

Symptoms of depression in his 30s were brushed off as early midlife crisis

- Joyce Teo Senior Health Correspondent

George Khoo, 63, seen here with his wife Mabel, 68, was diagnosed with depression at the age of 54, though he used to have major depressive episodes since his late teens. During his darkest moments, the thoughts of his wife and children pulled him back from the brink.

(ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO)

Throughout his life, Dr George Khoo felt enveloped by an aura of melancholy that was occasionally punctuated by intense sadness.

Until he sought help about a decade ago, it never occurred to him that he might have a mental illness.

"When he was in his 30s, I thought he was having an early midlife crisis," said his wife Mabel, 68. "I even bought him a Christian book on men in midlife."

Dr Khoo, 65, a family physician, chimed in: "I also thought I was having an early midlife crisis!"

In 2014, there were many changes in his life, and his mood deteriorated.

His son and daughter each got engaged, and his daughter began preparing for her wedding. Though it should have been a happy event, Dr Khoo began to grieve.

"We are a close-knit family, and we were about to lose her," he said, recalling how he had to steel himself for their home life to change.

Both his children got married in 2015.

Despite his taking Wednesday afternoons off work and exercising regularly, these self-care activities proved insufficient.

Then he enrolled in a graduate diploma course in mental health to gain a better understanding of mental health conditions to aid him in his work as a medical adviser to a Christian organisation.

"I didn't really have a lot of exposure to it (mental health), so much so that I honestly didn't know I was going through clinical depression, even as a doctor," he said.

Still, it took a few more months before he decided to seek help.

Dr Khoo was 54 when he was diagnosed with depression in late 2014.