'You are not alone': Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, reveals she 'spent time' at Swiss mental health facility
The Duchess of York, 64, has been open about her battles while living in the public eye after marrying and then divorcing Prince Andrew, with whom she shares daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
On Monday, Fergie shared a candid new social media post and accompanying essay in the UK's Telegraph newspaper revealing her mental health struggles and time at a Swiss mental health facility.
"Mental health touches us all - it has no boundaries,' she wrote via Instagram on Monday.
'We need to promote open conversations about mental health and how we can improve access to mental healthcare across society.
'I recently spent time at @paracelsusrecovery in Zurich, a clinic known for its discreet, bespoke care for those facing complex mental health and addiction challenges, to learn more."
The Duchess of York then recommended people struggling with their mental health to 'seek help' and shared a link to a first-person piece for The Telegraph newspaper.
In an extraordinarily frank article, Ferguson opened up about battling eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from her mother Susan abandoning the family when she was a child.
Ferguson said her visit was designed to both 'discuss' her personal issues and use her platform as a royal family member to raise awareness about mental health.
'I wasn't there to be diagnosed, but we discussed my own childhood and the profound scars that were left when my mother left the family when I was 12 for a new life in South America,' she said.
Ferguson also wrote of her pain after cruel 'tabloid headlines of the 1980s and 1990s' and more recent 'comments on social media (which I regard as a cesspit)'.
Recent online abuse, combined with a double cancer diagnosis, ultimately resulted in the Duchess of York seeking professional help.
'All of this inspired my recent visit to Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, which kindly hosted me as a guest,' she wrote.
'I am not embarrassed to reveal the clinic offered me a sanctuary, renowned as it is for its bespoke, cutting-edge treatment for those grappling with mental health and addiction issues – particularly those whose struggles are often hidden behind the facade of a public role.'
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