Andie Chen encouraged those suffering from depression to go easy on themselves. Photo: Andie Chen/Instagram
Taipei-based Singaporean actor Andie Chen has opened up about a dark time in his life.
The 39-year-old star uploaded a reel to his Instagram account on April 1 and revealed he previously struggled with depression. This was when he and his Taiwanese wife, actress Kate Pang, 42, moved to Taipei from Singapore in 2020 with their two children – a son, 10, and daughter, eight.
In the clip, he said he struggled with parenting the kids, then only six and four, alone in a foreign city whenever Pang went overseas for work. He said those periods “nearly broke” him, adding that they sometimes caught him crying in bed.
In the reel, which includes clips of his children playing and doing their chores around the home, Chen said things eventually got better.
In a follow-up interview with local Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, which was published on April 3, Chen said he originally moved to Taipei to expand his career, but the move coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.
He recalled: “The first few months there, I was unfamiliar with a lot of things. I didn’t even know how to pay electricity and water bills in Taipei, so I felt like an idiot. And I thought there would be opportunities in my career, but the pandemic halted many projects. Job opportunities dried up and I felt like I didn’t have much (of a career) and I still had to take care of two children.
“I was very down and often cried without reason. I just felt so helpless.”
Taipei-based Singaporean actor Andie Chen with his Taiwanese wife Kate Pang and their children. Photo: Kate Pang/Instagram
The celebrity couple – who married in 2013 – relied on savings to make ends meet during their first two years in Taiwan, and Chen became anxious about their financial situation. It was a sharp contrast to their life in Singapore, with a steady stream of jobs and income, and two domestic helpers at home.
His self-esteem took another hit when he had to borrow money from his parents so that his kids could attend enrichment classes.
“As a father, I want to fulfil all the education needs my children have, but I couldn’t keep up with my income then, and had to borrow money from my parents to tide us over. I felt so useless asking my parents for money in my 30s. But that also helped me see who truly cared for me at my lowest point,” he recalled.
While he initially hid his feelings from Pang, he eventually confided in her when he noticed his depression symptoms growing more severe. He said she supported and understood him.
“I’m very thankful that after everything, our family is still so bonded,” he said.
Now, the couple are embracing better days. Both Chen and Pang are signed to Taiwanese talent agency EeLin Entertainment, which counts actor James Wen and actress Janel Tsai under its banner.
Chen and Pang are both starring in a new medical drama about plastic surgeons that is executive-produced by Wen, and play husband and wife in cameo appearances in the Taiwanese romance movie The Uniform.
Chen will also star in the upcoming Channel 8 time-travel series Fixing Fate, alongside Xu Bin and Carrie Wong, while Pang has appeared in movies and TV dramas in Taiwan.
Chen encouraged those suffering from depression to go easy on themselves.
He said: “Don’t penalise yourself because of how you feel and don’t feel embarrassed about it. If you’re depressed and ill, just accept that. Don’t judge or invalidate your feelings.
“And if someone in your life is depressed, reach out and lend him or her a helping hand, so he or she knows you care.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 / 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 / 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim’s family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 /email sam@befrienders.org.my/befriender centres in malaysia).
