A “JOYFUL, HELPFUL PERSON” WHO HAD FLUCTUATING MOODS DUE TO DEPRESSION
“She was a joyful person, very helpful, and always trying to put [others before herself],” Yap said.
Yet, behind the friendly, bubbly demeanor that her customers saw (and shared about on social media), in private, her spirits often fluctuated due to depression. “Sometimes her mood can be good, then all of a sudden without any reason, it can be extremely low,” he said.
Goh had battled depression since 2018 and had been open about her mental health challenges on social media.
Coping with the pressures of running a business exacerbated the situation. In an interview with 8days.sg last August, Goh had said: “I got very depressed [due to the poor business at her now-defunct bakery in Toa Payoh], so my husband asked me whether I wanted to just shut it down, but I didn’t want to waste my efforts. I know I can do it, I just need time.”
She added back then that struggling to keep her business afloat affected her mental health. “I am taking medication that controls my anxiety and depression. So when things get bad, I’ll just ‘hide’ and bake. There are times that I’ll shut down [the shop] to think of what’s the next step I should take to preserve this business”.
FOUND COMFORT IN NUTELLA COOKIES AFTER IMH ADMISSION
The millennial’s love for baking was first sparked “when she was admitted to IMH (Institute of Mental Health) a few years ago”, Yap said.
