STM Annual Frankfurt Conference held at The Westin Grand Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. STM - Surviving our Mid-Life Crisis: Forward from Forty. Mid-life crisis is a term coined in 1965 by Elliott Jaques and used in Western societies to describe a period of dramatic self-doubt that is felt by some individuals in the 'middle years' of life, as a result of sensing the passing of youth and the imminence of old age.