The Solitude of Success
HELMI YUSOF | The Peak: The Solitude of Success. Senior executives under immense pressure to excel have few avenues to vent their fears and frustrations.
Leaders hide struggles.
Nick Jonsson, managing director of EGN Singapore, initially kept his condition under wraps as he descended into depression in 2018. Struggling with his mental health, he turned to alcohol, leading to significant weight gain and further isolation. At his lowest point, he decided to seek help through a full health screening in Batam, fearing that a visit to a clinic in Singapore might expose him to people who knew him.
This trip marked a pivotal moment in his journey, reflecting both his desperation for change and the challenges of stigma that can accompany mental health struggles in the professional realm. As he ventured into unfamiliar territory, he carried not only his hopes for healing but also the weight of societal perceptions that often dismiss mental health issues as signs of weakness. Each interaction became a test of his resilience, with the undercurrent of fear that revealing his struggles might jeopardize his professional relationships and reputation. Nonetheless, this experience served as a catalyst for his growth, compelling him to confront not only his own vulnerabilities but also the broader implications of mental wellness in the workplace, ultimately inspiring a deeper dialogue about acceptance and understanding.