Hong Kong actress Samantha Ko has opened up about her struggles with mental health in a recent interview with Hong Kong actor-host-director Lawrence Cheng.

Her popularity has surged after starring in the TVB drama The Queen Of News (2023). The 38-year-old’s role as morning news anchor Cathy garnered her the Best Supporting Actress accolade at the TVB Awards in 2024. 

Appearing on Cheng’s online show HiEggo, which was uploaded on YouTube on July 4, Ko said she has experienced depression, emotional instability and panic attacks.

The panic attacks began during the Covid-19 pandemic when she had to travel to China frequently for work.

“I went to the mainland alone with two pieces of luggage, and there was a need to quarantine then,” she said. “I had to shuttle between both sides and sometimes had to stay in China for six months by myself.”

Ko added she was hit hard emotionally after her grandfather died, and she was unable to return to Hong Kong to see him one last time.

“I remember one day when I went to the supermarket with my mother,” she recalled. “I was standing by the road with two bags of stuff and waiting for the traffic light. A truck passed by and an idea came to my mind: ‘What will happen if I step out?’ At that moment, I took a step back subconsciously and was shocked by my thought.”

The actress went to see a psychiatrist soon after as she used to be an optimistic person with few negative thoughts.

“He said that I did not need to take medicine and he would help me by chatting with me once a week. But I took along some medicine with me in case it was needed.”

Ko also recounted an instance of a panic attack while filming a scene in The Queen Of News, when her character witnessed a woman being hit by a car after jumping from a balcony.

“My mind went blank and I became more nervous,” she said of the filming. “Every time I made a mistake (in my lines), she had to jump again. She might meet with a real accident even though she was a stuntwoman.”

Ko said she broke down and cried, and could not carry on with the scene. The shooting of the scene was cancelled and moved to another day.

“The incident left a deep impression on my mind as it turned out that I couldn’t bear this kind of psychological pressure,” she said.

She regularly used techniques such as meditation to maintain a calm state of mind.

“Many people may only take note of their physical pain when they get too busy without realising the psychological pressure they are going through,” she said. “That’s why I urge everyone to take note of their mental health.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network