State of Mind

Intellect co-founder Theodoric Chew shares how the mental health start-up is redefining the delivery of mental healthcare to workplaces and individuals

- Hashirin Nurin Hashimi

“If everyone knew what therapy would do for them, we would all be going for therapy,” says Theodoric Chew. For the co-founder and CEO of Intellect, this declaration comes from a personal place, and tells us why he founded his mental health start-up.

Chew suffered from anxiety and panic attacks as a teenager. “The first one [panic attack] was so scary, I didn’t know what it was. It felt like the world was crumbling down,” shares the 27-year-old entrepreneur. “I did my own research and spoke to my parents that I should see a therapist. That was when I started to seek professional help.” He remembers that first session quite clearly, describing it as “very cathartic”.

We all go through various forms of struggles every day, be it personal or professional, big or small. “Mental health is not black and white—it is a spectrum,” says Chew. “We move along the spectrum depending on what’s happening in our lives and how we’re feeling.”

If we’re physically unwell, we see a GP; when we have more chronic issues, we see a specialist; other times, we try to lead a healthier lifestyle by eating and sleeping well, and doing yoga, for example. But, Chew asks, why is it when it comes to our mental health, we only seek help when we have “broken down”?