Wolfgang Grupp discloses his attempted suicide
In a shocking turn of events, Wolfgang Grupp, the iconic founder of German underwear, leisure, and sportswear manufacturer Trigema, is currently hospitalized following a suicide attempt attributed to age-related depression.
Born in 1942 in Burladingen, a city with over 12,000 inhabitants on the Swabian Alb (Zollernalbkreis), Grupp took over Trigema in 1969, transforming it into a renowned brand that proudly advertises its products as being 100% "Made in Germany".
Grupp, known for his outspokenness, is a frequent guest on talk shows where he criticizes the megalomania of some entrepreneurs and advocates for personal liability for all bosses. In 2023, Trigema had a production turnover of 129.3 million euros and employed over 1,140 people.
However, the recent incident has cast a sombre shadow over the industry veteran. The police confirmed an incident in Burladingen, where Grupp resides, involving an injured person being helicoptered to the hospital from a private apartment. The police found no evidence of external involvement or a crime at the scene.
In a letter to his former employees, Grupp wrote about his struggle with age-related depression, a mental health condition that affects older adults significantly. Symptoms include persistent sadness, mood swings, fatigue, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, negative feelings like guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness, poor concentration, and difficulty making decisions.
Common triggers of elderly depression include loneliness and social isolation, loss and grief, biological factors like genetic predisposition and brain changes, environmental factors such as living conditions and financial strain, and psychological factors like fear of death and death anxiety.
Trigema briefly commented on Grupp's health status after the hospital stay became known, stating that he was doing well for his age. Grupp stepped down as CEO in early 2024 and handed over management to his son, Wolfgang Grupp junior, and daughter, Bonita.
Grupp is known for his iconic TV ads featuring a chimpanzee promoting T-shirts and sweatshirts. The live animal has been replaced by a computer animation. Since the incident, no further statements have been made by a spokesperson for Trigema.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues, especially in older adults, and the need for support and understanding in dealing with age-related depression.
- Despite his successful business career, Wolfgang Grupp, the founder of Trigema, is currently struggling with age-related depression, a condition that affects mental health in older adults.
- Wolfgang Grupp often uses his platforms, such as talk shows, to criticize megalomaniac behaviors in entrepreneurship and advocate for personal liabilities for bosses, yet he recently faced a personal struggle with mental health.
- Common triggers of elderly depression include loneliness and social isolation, environmental factors such as financial strain, and psychological factors like fear of death and death anxiety.
- The health improvement and wellness industry, which encompasses both the physical and mental aspects of individual health, needs to expand its focus on addressing and supporting age-related mental health conditions like depression, especially in entrepreneurs like Wolfgang Grupp.
