Local actor Thomas Ong has revealed that his decision to forgo having a single place to stay for three months last year caused him to suffer from depression.
Speaking at the press conference for his new TV drama Secrets for Sale, the former MediaCorp star said that after moving in and out of rented apartments for the past 10 years, he "wanted to experience what it's like to be without a home."
During those three ‘homeless' months, Ong primarily stayed with two of his friends, who let him use their guest room or living room. Occasionally, we would stay at a budget hotel or live with his godson in Kuala Lumpur.
The nomadic lifestyle caused him to suffer both physically and mentally. He said: "I didn't know it would be so depressing not having a fixed place to go back at the end of the day."
Even though he knew that he was slipping into depression, he did nothing to stop the slide, saying: "I wasn't in a clear state of mind then. I intentionally wanted to have this experience. Maybe actors are sickos."
Ong is much better now after meeting a senior financial advisor, Mr Hang Chang Choon, who encouraged him to start planning for his future.
With Mr Hang's advice, Ong decided to become a financial advisor as well, learning how to manage his finances as his life.
Looking back on his bleakest period, he says that he "always knew that it was just an experiment and that (he) would be okay in a few months time".
Speaking at the press conference for his new TV drama Secrets for Sale, the former MediaCorp star said that after moving in and out of rented apartments for the past 10 years, he "wanted to experience what it's like to be without a home."
During those three ‘homeless' months, Ong primarily stayed with two of his friends, who let him use their guest room or living room. Occasionally, we would stay at a budget hotel or live with his godson in Kuala Lumpur.
The nomadic lifestyle caused him to suffer both physically and mentally. He said: "I didn't know it would be so depressing not having a fixed place to go back at the end of the day."
Even though he knew that he was slipping into depression, he did nothing to stop the slide, saying: "I wasn't in a clear state of mind then. I intentionally wanted to have this experience. Maybe actors are sickos."
Ong is much better now after meeting a senior financial advisor, Mr Hang Chang Choon, who encouraged him to start planning for his future.
With Mr Hang's advice, Ong decided to become a financial advisor as well, learning how to manage his finances as his life.
Looking back on his bleakest period, he says that he "always knew that it was just an experiment and that (he) would be okay in a few months time".
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