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Men need to open up about mental health, says business executive who struggled with depression and anxiety for two years
- Law firm COO Brian Henderson hid symptoms of mental illness from his family and friends for months
- He finally told his doctor and was soon on the path to recovery. Now he is on a mission to help others who find themselves in the same boat
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When Brian Henderson took to social media in October to talk about his hard-won battle with mental illness, he was met with an outpouring of support from friends and colleagues across the globe. Responding to his LinkedIn post, which came with the hashtag #thisisme, many thanked Henderson for shedding light on mental illness and encouraging sufferers to seek help.
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Others – including those close to him – admitted they had no idea he had been ill for two years.
As chief operating officer of a global law firm in Hong Kong for more than eight years, Henderson had maintained a healthy and balanced lifestyle to offset the long hours and frequent travel that came with his demanding work schedule. A competitive outrigger canoeist and yoga enthusiast, the 55-year-old ate healthily and drank little alcohol. He had a network of family, friends and colleagues. For pleasure, he played the guitar.
But a series of events began to unfold that would take a toll on his mental health. In 2018, Henderson’s partner suffered a life-threatening asthma attack that radically altered her sporty lifestyle and the couple’s retirement plan to travel.
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Soon afterwards, his law firm launched a restructuring that caused widespread anxiety among staff. Then his outrigger canoeing team’s equipment was smashed during Typhoon Mangkhut. Social unrest in Hong Kong grew, and his firm’s global chair died unexpectedly. The Covid-19 pandemic came next, which exacerbated Henderson’s fears for his partner’s health.
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