Sarah Ferguson shares heartbreaking update on how she's been to 'dark places'

After revealing she spent time in a Swiss clinic which focuses on mental health and addiction problems, the Sarah, Duchess of York, has candidly spoken out about her decades of mental health struggles, the reality of living with cancer and the turmoil that comes with royal life
Sarah Ferguson has revealed she spent time in a mental health clinic in Switzerland, candidly sharing details about her decades-long struggle with mental health issues. The Duchess of York spoke out about her visit to the Paracelsus Recovery centre in Zurich, which hosted her as a guest, to discuss the importance of mental health awareness and support.
During her discussion with Dr Thilo Beck, the clinic's lead psychiatrist, and Jan Gerber, its chief executive and founder, Sarah admitted that negative discourse online over the years, combined with her shocking double cancer diagnosis in 2023, sent her mind 'to some dark places'.
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In a message about her visit to the clinic, which is known for its care for those facing complex mental health and addiction challenges, Fergie wrote on Instagram: "Mental health touches us all - it has no boundaries. We need to promote open conversations about mental health and how we can improve access to mental healthcare across society."
In the rest of her caption, she praised the workers at the clinic, writing: "What I found was not only a centre of clinical excellence, but a place of deep humanity. Conversations with Dr Thilo Beck and Jan Gerber, the clinic's founder, were illuminating. Jan's mission is one I deeply respect and share: to bring mental health out of the shadows and into open, compassionate conversation.'
"If you or someone you know is struggling, I encourage you to seek help. You are not alone, and there is no shame in taking the steps towards healing."
Sharing more about her trip to Switzerland and her own mental health journey with the Telegraph, Fergie opened up about the 'the profound scars' of her childhood that 'led to feelings of unworthiness [that] contributed to an unhealthy attitude to food that often threatened to spiral into a full-scale eating disorder'.
She also candidly wrote: 'Spending most of my life in the public eye has been a great privilege, but has also presented its own challenges.'
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More recently, she admitted that her mind went to a 'dark place' in 2023, when within months, she was diagnosed with both skin and breast cancer, which left her questioning her sense of self as she faced a long health struggle, both physically and mentally.
She wrote: 'Most recently, I don't mind admitting that my mind went to some dark places – focusing on my own mortality – when I was diagnosed with first breast cancer and then skin cancer, which my father had when he died and also killed my best friend.'
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This is not the first time Sarah has admitted to seeking help for her mental health struggles, as she has long dabbled with psychics and, in 1992, was reported to have visited a 'mystic healer' called Madame Vasso.
Fergie concluded her thoughts by explaining the real purpose of her visit to the Swiss clinic, writing: 'We need to promote open conversations about mental health and how we can improve access to mental healthcare across society for all. Only by addressing the stigma head-on can society move towards a more compassionate and understanding approach to mental health.'

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