Fears have mounted over Jordan Peterson’s health after his daughter shared a cryptic Father’s Day message saying she “misses” her father, prompting a flood of concern from fans before the psychologist himself broke his silence to confirm he remains too unwell to return to public life.
Mikhaila Peterson, 34, posted a childhood photograph of herself with her father on X with the words “Happy Father’s Day. Miss you,” leaving thousands of followers alarmed about the 63-year-old’s condition. The message sparked immediate speculation, with some users questioning whether Peterson was still alive. “Miss you? Is he still alive?” one commenter wrote. “Is he dead,” another asked. “Wait where is he?” a third posted.
Peterson responded to the concern with a post on Instagram, confirming he is alive but still incapacitated. “Hi everybody. I’m pleased to let you know that we’re going to release a lecture a week from my extensive tour archive, beginning this Sunday and then repeating every Sunday after that,” he wrote. “This allows me to do something interesting and useful while I’m otherwise incapacitated. My health is such at the moment that I can’t really return to podcasting or public lecturing.” He said he was “as happy as I can be under the current circumstances” and thanked supporters for their “continued attention and support.”
Peterson, who has an estimated net worth of up to $100 million and rose to global prominence through his YouTube lectures and bestselling book 12 Rules for Life, has been battling serious health problems since being admitted to intensive care in September last year. According to Mikhaila, he has been suffering from akathisia — a debilitating condition causing intense restlessness, an inability to keep still and a persistent sense of terror. Others who have experienced the same condition have described it as the most “frightening hell a human can experience,” with some taking their own lives as a result.
Mikhaila, who appears to be managing her father’s affairs in his absence, has said she believes his condition was originally triggered by anti-anxiety medication he was prescribed after his wife Tammy’s kidney cancer diagnosis in 2020. She has also claimed he was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, an autoimmune condition allegedly triggered by exposure to toxic mould — a diagnosis not widely accepted in mainstream medicine. Complications from pneumonia and sepsis were said to have landed him in intensive care, where he was “near death.”
Peterson’s health struggles have a long history. His serious decline began at the height of his fame in 2019, when his wife’s cancer diagnosis led him to increase his anxiety medication. He has previously described his mental state at that time as “dire” and admitted he had been left hoping he would die. In January 2020 he flew to Moscow to undergo a medically induced coma lasting more than a week in an attempt to force a rapid withdrawal from his medication — a treatment widely criticised by mainstream medical practitioners, who say akathisia is typically managed by slowly weaning patients off their medication.
While Mikhaila’s Father’s Day post drew some criticism — with one user calling it “the most blatant engagement post” and another suggesting it was “disgusting to use your father’s illness for engagement” — the overwhelming response from Peterson’s supporters was one of warmth and concern. “Love this picture. Thank you for sharing. I hope your Dad returns to full health soon. The world needs him,” one wrote. Another added: “Happy Father’s Day to a man who has been a father figure for many. Wishing you all the best, Sir. Mikhaila, keeping you and the family in our prayers.”
