Wikipedia statistics show that 15% of alcoholics commit suicide. Fact. As many as 25% of alcoholics suffer from severe psychiatric disturbances. The most prevalent psychiatric symptoms are anxiety and depression disorders. What leads an individual to take his/her own life is a subject for another day, this post is about one alcoholic in particular. Her name is Rachel Butler.
Rachel Butler is an alcoholic. She is also a woman whose husband left her just after Christmas (just 2 weeks ago). She has not only lost her husband which, although the marriage was (in her own words) long dead, she has lost her dignity to boot.
For most people, a relationship breaking down is painful and stressful enough. Add to that alcoholism, betrayal and mistrust (regarding dates) and what have you got? A terribly vulnerable woman who, rightfully or wrongly gave an interview to the press…
A former friend is now openly having a relationship with the available husband John (but only SINCE he left the family home we are told ). Upon being informed that Rachel had given an interview to The Mail, this friend posted press releases on her blog-page which state that Rachel is an “abusive alcoholic”. Amongst these is one from Rachel Butler’s daughter Lucy in support of her father’s new relationship, denouncing her mother. Heartbreaking.
The statements were then published in full, in The Daily Mail and many other national newspapers since. In response, the distressed Rachel has admitted she is an alcoholic, declared that she would name her former friend on the divorce petition and labelled her a “marriage wrecker”. The Daily Mail again acting as host.
It’s all gone a bit Jeremy Kyle with this publication (but without the patient doctor waiting in the wings to offer his help). Nor are there bouncers at hand to prevent the parties from further blackening not eyes but reputations on all sides.
Time for our media to grow up and take some responsibility, this is not a side-show, these are real people, one of whom at least is extremely vulnerable. They should not allow or encourage even more damage to be done to an already damaged woman, in the name of readership figures and “entertainment”. Why not? I refer you back to my first paragraph.
I truly hope that the rest of this sorry tale can be played out in private, with all sides finding the help and happiness they deserve.
If you would like to speak in confidence about an alcohol problem you can contact Alcoholics Anonymous here. The NHS also offer advice on their “Live Well” page, which has links for your local area.
* Since finishing the post I have discovered this Daily Mail article.. “on and on it goes, where it stops, nobody knows”: Willy Wonker.
** This post has been edited since first publication as it contained my personal media experiences which I have since decided to delete.
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