Rich and depressed: the suffering of the super-rich

At Zurich’s Paracelsus Recovery clinic, therapy comes with luxury. Its CEO, Jan Gerber, knows from personal experience that wealth does not protect against mental illness. Early morning in thick fog: outdoor lighting illuminates the façade of a timber-framed building and a stone staircase leading from the pool to the fitness area. Inside are a Pilates reformer, treadmill, sauna and whirlpool. Jan Gerber rolls out his yoga mat. This routine became part of his life after a severe depressive episode. “Covid hit, my company was close to bankruptcy, my marriage was falling apart. My whole reality collapsed,” he recalls. “Even being told to stand at the window and take a deep breath triggered crying fits.” A hospital stay helped him regain stability. Such stories are not uncommon. What sets Gerber apart is his wealth. “I made tens of millions through investments and by building and selling companies,” he says. Yet his experience led him to a clear conclusion: “Pain is pain, no matter how ...