Wolfgang Grupp admits to attempting suicide
In a heartfelt letter to his former employees, Wolfgang Grupp, the 84-year-old former CEO of textile company Trigema, has disclosed his recent struggle with old-age depression that led to a suicide attempt. Born in Burladingen, a city in the Zollernalbkreis region of Swabia, Grupp has been a significant figure in the company, leading it for over 50 years and steering it out of financial difficulties.
The incident, which occurred in Burladingen, has been confirmed by authorities, who found no involvement of third parties or criminal offenses. The company, which reported a production turnover of 129.3 million euros in 2023 and boasts over 1,140 employees in 2024, has shown solidarity with Grupp during this challenging time.
Grupp, currently hospitalized, expressed regret over the incident and shared his ongoing struggle with depression. He acknowledged that recovery may take some time and extended his gratitude to the medical professionals who have been caring for him. Importantly, he urged others dealing with depression to seek professional help and treatment, highlighting the availability of a telephone counseling service (www.telefonseelsorge.de) for immediate help for people who are depressed or have suicidal thoughts.
Grupp's health status is reported to be "doing well under the circumstances," but full recovery may be prolonged. In addition to his health revelation, he has been vocal about inefficiencies in the German healthcare system, highlighting bureaucratic inefficiencies and a perceived lack of patient-centered care during his hospitalization.
While the company respects his privacy and supports his recovery, precise details on leadership adjustments at Trigema remain undisclosed in the recent reports. However, it is clear that Grupp's son, Wolfgang Grupp junior, and his daughter, Bonita Grupp, have taken over as CEO and management of Trigema, with Bonita responsible for personnel, e-commerce, and marketing, and Wolfgang junior responsible for the B2B area, sales, logistics, and IT.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Grupp expressed gratitude for what he has achieved and experienced at Trigema, acknowledging the contributions of his team and the company's growth under his leadership. The company, in turn, continues to offer its support to its founder during this difficult time.
- Science and health-and-wellness should prioritize mental health, given Wolfgang Grupp's struggle with old-age depression and his call for others to seek professional help.
- Discussions about the German healthcare system, particularly highlighting bureaucratic inefficiencies and the perceived lack of patient-centered care, have emerged in the context of Grupp's hospitalization, pointing toward the need for improvements in science and health-and-wellness.
