Illustration: Luo Xuan/GT







The recent tragic death of a man who leaped to his death from the 26th floor of his company's headquarters after being forced to resign has brought the lives of middle-aged men into sharp focus. The pressures of maintaining his income and supporting a family, in this case, proved too much to bear.



It begs the question of how many other 40- and 50-somethings are in the same position. Undoubtedly, the sad circumstances described above are quite common across the nation.



It also brings up the topic of middle-aged foreigners working in China. Are they undergoing a similar midlife crisis?



I think the answer to this question is yes and no. In the sense that men everywhere become aware of their physical decline and impending mortality in their middle years, then the answer is yes.



The realization that it is all downhill from here leads to a feeling of desperation which can be hard to shake off. If the man in question is in an unfulfilling job with a mediocre salary, then these emotions are compounded.



Even seemingly successful people have killed themselves in their 40s and 50s. Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are not to be underestimated, and loved ones need to be on the lookout for warning signs, such as excessive drinking or withdrawal from contact and communication.



However, in my experience, the majority of middle-aged Westerners working in China do not appear to be in this situation.



For the most part, moving to China gives them a new lease on life. Many of them have better jobs and higher salaries here. Their social status is also better. At home, they are merely another middle-aged guy, but in China, they get more respect as sought-after commodities in the Chinese market.



Another benefit is their ability to attract young wives and girlfriends. I know a number of older men who have settled down with ladies 20 or 30 years younger than themselves. Clearly, this gives them a new lease on life, both sexually and in terms of their self-image.



So, although these men are as prone to a midlife crisis as anybody else, they have a solution: getting a good job, making money and starting a family in China. In other words, China, on the whole, is very good to them.



Their "crisis" thus takes on a unique form, as mentally, they return to their youthful years and behave like a younger version of themselves, cavorting hedonistically toward their twilight years.



Some of them make merry, go out on the town and play the field like a 20-something student. Others derive satisfaction from having kids late in life.



In most cases, they are far from depressed or suicidal. To be honest, in comparison with the employee described above, they are in an enviable position. They are able to forge a new life without the pressures of maintaining a career in the face of fierce competition.



This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.