98 Degrees’ Jeff Timmons Felt 'So Worthless' and Sought Help for Suicidal Thoughts as the Band Worked on Its Debut
98 Degrees’ Jeff Timmons Felt 'So Worthless' and Sought Help for Suicidal Thoughts as the Band Worked on Its Debut
Angela AndaloroFri, April 10, 2026 at 6:57 PM UTC
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Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, Nick Lachey, Justin JeffreCredit: Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection/Getty -
Jeff Timmons talks about feeling like the "weakest link" in 98 Degrees as the band worked toward their early success
Timmons appears in ID's new documentary, Boy Band Confidential, where he discusses seeking help for his mental health in his darkest days
Bandmate Nick Lachey points to the different attitudes toward mental health care for artists today
Jeff Timmons is opening up about his struggles at the beginning of 98 Degrees' rise to fame.
Appearing in ID's new documentary, Boy Band Confidential, the singer, 52, recalls grappling with difficult feelings as the group was primed for success by their label, Motown Records.
Timmons admitted to feeling like "the weakest link in the group," explaining, "I just didn't feel good about myself. I didn't feel good, physically. I couldn't sleep and my head wasn't right."
"I felt so worthless and just the fact that I could not handle all this pressure, that I was like, 'Just end it.' "
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Justin Jeffre, Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey and Jeff Timmons of 98 DegreesCredit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Timmons tried hard to work past those feelings, but it wouldn't be easy.
"For whatever reason, I just thought, 'No screw that. Just push one more time. Just try this last thing,' " he shared. ""I went to our manager and I said, 'I need some help. If I don't get some sort of help, I will not be here. This is over. And I mean, seriously.'"
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Thankfully, the group's manager took Timmons seriously.
"He found a psychiatrist for me to go to, and he put me on this Atkins diet and put me on some medication. Within three months, I felt better than ever. It doesn't make this any easier, but at least I felt better that I didn't want to die."
Drew Lachey, Nick Lachey, Justin Jeffre and Jeff TimmonsCredit: Barry King/WireImage
Bandmate Nick Lachey noted that while today, artists are given grace for prioritizing their mental health, such was not the case in the 90s.
"You'll see a Bieber cancel a tour. You'll see a Shawn Mendes cancel a tour because, 'My mental health needs to come first.' That was not an option when we were out there."
"You went out there and you did the show and you came back after the show and you broke down and you cried and you kicked a hole in the wall or you did whatever you had to do, but you didn’t bow out. You worked so hard to get there, you couldn’t let your foot off the gas.”
Boy Band Confidential: A Hollywood Demons Event premieres Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID, with both titles available to stream on HBO Max. The second season of Hollywood Demons premieres Monday, April 20, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
