Executive Pressure: Jan Gerber on Navigating CEO Mental Health Challenges in an interview with Ed Vaizey from Times Radio
In a compelling interview on Times Radio, host Ed Vaizey engages with Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, to explore the pressing issue of mental health among business leaders. Gerber, who brings personal experience and professional expertise to the discussion, reveals the increase in mental health referrals he receives each April, a time when CEOs face immense pressure to meet financial targets. The conversation delves into the causes of executive stress and burnout, strategies for prevention and recovery, and the different ways men and women handle stress at the top. Through candid insights and shared experiences, this interview shines a light on the hidden challenges of leadership and the critical importance of addressing mental health in high-pressure roles.
And here the transcript:
with particular expertise in rehabilitation issues. But he’s had a spike in he gets a spike in referrals every April from business leaders and CEOs who are under pressure at hitting their results targets. I have to say, Sam, you don’t strike me as someone who lets pressure get to you.
But Jan, welcome to the show. Jan, welcome to the show. Sorry to call you Jan there.
Jan, tell us about your business. You’re very upfront about the fact that you yourself had a breakdown 10 years ago as well. Actually, more two years ago.
Oh, two years ago. Yeah, well, I just thought, you know, why hide it since we’re… Oh, sorry, I meant after I meant 10 years of treating the world CEOs, then you had a breakdown. Yes, that’s right.
Exactly. Exactly. But it wasn’t treating the CEOs that gave him the breakdown, but just, you know, running a sizable business and, you know, whatever life throws at you, it can take a toll.
So what is the secret to either avoiding burnout or getting help when you do burnout? Well, I think it’s all about awareness and early, you know, protection, anyway, being honest with yourself and also being honest with a lost one if that person is, you know, working in a top, top job when you realize what early symptoms could be. We just… Because that CEOs, especially, I mean, those who build businesses like Sam, you have an impressive track record, or even if you get the top job by working yourself up in a sizable company as a professional CEO, you always have to portray strength. You have to portray competence.
And if you run, God forbid, in this company, you know, the stock market reacts to any sign of, you know, possible weakness or personal issues of the top guy. So there’s a lot of, you know, facade to uphold in many ways. And underneath, everybody’s human.
And I think we just have to have an honest conversation around that. And is there a difference between how men and women at the top deal with stress? I would say yes. Now, I guess it’s hard to generalize without having the, you know, the data and the science and all that.
And I think women tend to have an ability, but also allowed by society to be a bit more upfront and more vulnerable. Whereas, you know, a man in that position tends to get more heat or more easily, you know, discredited by investors or the public. I have to show a sign of weakness or just, again, being human.
That is true, actually. That’s a part of the reason that people do burn out is because they can’t be honest about it. Because, you know, it’s funny in the Times magazine tomorrow, we’ve got an interview with Alice Law and Mo Gawdat, both high flyers turned anxiety experts.
So it is a theme. Sam, you seem so chill and mellow. How did you avoid executive stress burnout? Because you are flying everywhere.
Surely that’s a recipe for massive stress. I think stress, the chill has come in my old age, I think. I think I discovered yoga about 15 years ago.
And I do a lot of yoga. I do morning stretches. I do a lot of walking.
I do a lot of walking. And I take care of myself. I’ve discovered ice baths.
Jan? Oh, you’re brave. Jan, exercise, yoga, that’s a good way, isn’t it? Oh, absolutely. You know, and I also say that when I’m asking for people who cannot afford, you know, kind of expensive clinics and all that, do you have any tips for them? And yeah, the answer is exercise.
The answer is actually, you know, eat healthy. That’s, I mean, it’s not the silver bullet that ticks it all, but it’s already a way to go. And it’s not just in, you know, when you hit the wall that this can help you climb out of it.
But it’s all about prevention and keeping fit, eating healthy, keeping to a certain rhythm, basic self-care. But when you work a tough job and then, you know, around results times when your company is doing maybe less than expected, you work day and night, you put work first, there’s a lot of expectations on your shoulders. And the first thing to go is exercise.
We all know that. When life gets busy, we stop going to the gym. And then it’s kind of, that’s the start of an initial cycle.
Absolutely right. And, but I mean, money helps. I mean, there’s no way around it.
If you’re a wealthy chief executive, you’ve got potentially the cash that gives you the buffer when things get tough. Isn’t that right? Well, money goes a long way to cover up, let’s say symptoms or issues, but it never solves the root cause. Now, of course, I mean, if you’re really modern about it, you can preventatively get a coach or even a therapist, even if you don’t have a diagnosed burnout yet, just preventatively if you can afford it.
And some people do, you know, they actually go to proactively to counseling, but most people wouldn’t do that. It has, you know, go downhill to quite a point until people actually seek professional help. Brilliant.
Wuyang Gerber, the CEO of Paracelsus Recovery and an expert on executive stress. Thank you for coming in to the show. And Dominic has texted to say, I can’t wait to see your picture, Ed, on the Times Radio app with your Cindy Crawford hair, which I’m going to get thanks to.
