Matthew Newton and Rachael Taylor in happier times
Photo © 2009 AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy
In a candid interview last night, Bert and Patti Newton revealed it is not really a battle against drugs and alcohol their son has, but rather against a mental illness.
Patti said Matthew has told her repeatedly that he wants to kill himself and is now “under suicide watch, which is absolutely devastating to a mother and father.”
Matthew was sacked last week as host of The X Factor after allegedly assaulting his fiancée Rachael Taylor while the newly-engaged couple holidayed in Rome.
Newton's public image was tarnished in 2007 when he was charged with assaulting his then-girlfriend Brooke Satchwell. He pleaded guilty to common assault but later had the conviction quashed.
Sitting next to a largely silent Bert on A Current Affair last night, Patti said of their troubled son: "He's the saddest I've ever heard anybody sound - he's just so sad. He knows what's happened; he knows what he's done. Hopefully medication might help him sort it out".
She lamented “to think it's come this and there's nothing we can do about it… we don't know where to turn or what to do... This is our problem, this is our cross to bear and we don't know how to handle it, we don't know what to do."
Support is available for anyone who may be distressed.
- SANE Helpline 1800 18 7263
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Salvo Crisis Line (02) 8736 3295 (Sydney) / (07) 3831 9016 (Brisbane) / 1300 36 36 22 (Regional NSW, Qld & ACT)
