Topi Borg overcame depression and made friends – Exciting words about loneliness

TV personality Top Borg life looked very different before 2023. He lived in Tampere, spent a lot of time with his family, suffered from long-term unemployment and loved movies. Borg’s older sister, Sointu Borg, was already known to the public at that point, but Topi was not known by anyone outside of the inner circle.

In March 2023, the situation changed. Borg targeted Yle On the spectrumprogram, which was followed by a book project and other own TV programs. On the spectrum– program, Topi Borg has risen to the consciousness of the entire nation and also to extreme popularity.

– I’m still a celebrity despite all the odds. I’m pretty much used to this. The fact is that everyday life goes on, no matter what stage of life it is, Topi Borg now comments on the events of the last few years.

– I am grateful to all of them who have believed in my potential and what I might be capable of as an individual and in the company of other people. For this reason, I am also extremely grateful for Topi Borg’s film club, he continues.

The love for movies has not disappeared anywhere. Borg’s own Topi Borg’s film club program started at Yle at the beginning of April. The show started when Borg went with his sister to the office of the production company Gimmeyawallet Productions.

The production company has previously produced, among others, Riku Rantala and Tuomas “Tunna” Milonoff Docventureswhich has been the most popular film-focused programs in Finland. The CEO of the production company, Elise Pietarila, now offered Borg the opportunity to have his own program, where he would watch films and discuss the public together with familiar guests.

– As soon as I had finished squealing and jumping like a hyena whose hemorrhoids had just burst, I wondered if this was even possible! We shot the test material together, we got funding and, against all expectations, we got the most incredible guests ever.

– This was like catching lightning in a bottle, Borg sculpts.

In the first production season, the film club was visited by Johannes Brotherus of the band Kuumaa, Sointu Borg, actor Jasper Pääkkönen, artist Erika Vikman, comedian Fathi Ahmed, director-writer Zaida Bergroth, Jukka Hildén of Duudsone, actress Ona Huczkowski, actress Pihla Viitala and president Tarja Halonen.

The guests were decided based on the joint ideas of the production team and Borg. In particular, the visits of Tarja Halonen, Jasper Pääkkönen and Erika Vikman stayed in Borg’s memory.

– Jasper Pääkkönen flew all the way from Canada to film the show. After filming, he then returned to Canada. It was mind-blowing for all of us and felt very privileged.

When talking with Borg, you get the feeling that he is a very modest person. Borg doesn’t need pomp or riches, the basics are enough. Nor does he praise himself more.

However, watching my own program made an impression.

– When I was sent the whole series to watch, I also thought, wow. I know my job quite well.

Loneliness

With his program, Borg wanted to show the importance of people’s unity, interaction and presence.

– I just wish that people would be present with each other and see their own value in addition to other values.

Borg himself knows very well what it’s like to not be able to interact with other people. Borg told in his book Rodeo of normalityhow he was long-term unemployed, lonely and depressed for two years after graduating. Borg said in his book that he spent almost all his days alone at home, endlessly watching the screen. To maximize his screen time, Borg skipped his evening shower and went to sleep on the couch in a hoodie and a blanket.

Borg sought solace in movies. With their help, he jumped into another reality and for a moment forgot what he felt.

At first, Borg didn’t talk about depression to anyone, not even his loved ones. Talking about one’s insecurities and feeling bad was embarrassing. According to Borg, it took a lot of humility for him to dare to tell his loved ones about his own problems. However, he realized that he had to talk about it, otherwise he couldn’t move forward in his life.

– I needed a lot of humility to understand that I am not the center of the world. I will also never be the center of the world, no matter how much I wish.

– It also requires an awful lot of understanding that less is enough and you are enough as you are, because other people around you prove it.

Borg watched the program with President Tarja Halonen Joonas Berghällin and Mika Hotakainen’s documentary film Men’s turn (2010). The film can be watched at Yle Areena. While watching the film, Borg and Halonen also discussed loneliness and masculinity.

Loneliness occurs in Finland especially in all genders. In recent years, however, there has been talk especially about men’s loneliness. According to the 2021 survey up to 20 percent of men feel lonely.

Stereotypically is classified as a traditional Finnish man a person who is quiet about his own affairs and does not want or need help from outsiders, especially healthcare professionals. A traditional man does his duty, even if other things are on the back burner.

Borg does not recognize these traits in himself. Borg would hope that Finnish men would dare to accept more help, because you don’t have to do it alone.

– Even if everything is perfect on paper and you can lie to yourself, pain is pain forever, he says.

Today, Borg is no longer depressed. He also says that he recognizes the initial symptoms of depression in himself very well. The most effective countermeasures against depression are spending time with family and loved ones and accepting one’s own imperfections and limitations in life.

However, loneliness has not disappeared from Borg’s life, it has only changed its form.

– I am lonely, although I have more fun in life than ever before.

– I have friends to spend time with, but I literally feel more alone these days than ever before. I have friends now and because of that I know what it’s like to spend time with friends and how bad it is not being able to spend time with them. When you know something, you want more of it.

Today, Borg’s everyday life consists of working in the Sale grocery store and advertising campaigns with Sointu sister. And of course from movies.

Borg had never dreamed of having his own film-focused TV show. His dreams have been significantly more down-to-earth and everyday.

– My dream has been to pay off my mortgage in the shortest possible time, but this program will help with that, Borg concludes.

Topi Borg’s film club series can be watched on Yle Areena. See all program information and broadcast times on Telku.