Cover Intellect co-founder Theodoric Chew
Intellect co-founder Theodoric Chew
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The mental health start-up seeks to reframe perspectives on mental health in workplaces and among individuals
“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 of 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”?
“We want to reframe people’s perspective on mental health and break it down to relatable everyday struggles versus just the big issues,” says Chew. “When we hear about mental health issues, what often comes to mind is depression, anxiety and trauma, but increasingly for the average person, it can also be stress and burnout, and even relationship issues with your partner and family members.”
To address these mental health needs, Intellect provides access to clinically-backed and evidence-based self-care programmes as well as online counselling by certified coaches, therapists and psychologists through its app. Since its launch in 2019, the team has worked with experts to create a curriculum based on proven therapy modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and effectively making it more accessible through a digital format.
The goal is to support anyone from all walks of life with end-to-end care, says Chew. To widen its reach, Intellect also provides an employee benefits solution to companies. “Employers saw the urgent need to invest in the care of their employees’ mental health and well-being during the pandemic, where a lot of people struggled due to lockdowns and prolonged isolation. Companies are starting to recognise that a failure to do so may lead to higher rates of attrition. Furthermore, people suffering from burn out are less productive—and this affects the bottom line.”
The good news is that mental health awareness in Singapore has grown over the years. The younger generations—Gen Zs and the younger millennials, Chew says—are also more open to talking about it, breaking down the stigmas and stereotypes. Every year, Intellect organises its flagship Mental Health Festival Asia, which brings together speakers from the government and private sectors, as well as media personalities to discuss these topics in a much more open manner. The theme for the 2023 edition, which will be held from September 28 to 29, is “Inspiring Change” to enable everyone, from business leaders to employees alike, to take the first step towards changing their personal outlook on mental health—and inspiring change in their respective communities.
Chew may be running a mental healthcare company, but he points out that he has no professional healthcare experience. He considers his lived experience as a strength, for it has “allowed me to view mental health from a lens that’s not confined to the current status quo. You see this time and again in the different industries, where game-changing companies have a slightly left-field approach that isn’t the traditional norm”. His knowledge and experience are in building and scaling businesses to a larger audience, which comes from working at different tech companies as well as his own start‑ups, including self-help content platform Existgreat which was acquired when he was just 20 years old.
The young entrepreneur has ambitious plans for Intellect going beyond just an app, which reaches out to over three million users today through a clinical network based in 20 countries, and providing localised content in 15 languages. He hopes to build an entire mental healthcare system in the Asia‑Pacific region. Last year, Intellect raised US$20 million in series A funding from investors, including Tiger Global, K3 Ventures and Singtel Innov8, to fuel its expansion plans in the region.
One can only imagine the stress that comes with building a start-up. To help him overcome this, Chew continues to schedule coaching or therapy sessions every other week or at least once a month, “My journey with therapy started from a place of coping with a struggle, but over the years it has shifted towards development and growth, and the betterment of myself,” he says, adding that he manages stress by setting boundaries on work and personal life to recharge and building a social support system.
“We put a lot on ourselves; we shouldn’t be expected to have everything figured out,” says Chew. “Society also tells us things [we need to do], sometimes good for society but not so for ourselves. So do what best suits you. Live by your own rules, for better or worse.” Surely Chew has built his life and business doing just that.
Credits
Photography: Frenchescar Lim
Art Direction: Jeremy Ang
Grooming: Benedict Choo
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
