In a heartfelt interview, Tina Malone shared her heartbreak, breaking down as she contemplated the passing of her husband, Paul Chase.
Tina Malone reaches out in a sigh of grief over her husband’s suicide.
Tina Malone has opened up about the pain of losing her husband, Paul Chase, who tragically took his own life last year. Tina is best known for playing Mimi Maguire in Shameless and is also recognised for her roles in Brookside and Celebrity Big Brother. Last year, Tina shared her heartbreak following the death of Paul and since then, has been campaigning for more support for former members of the Armed Forces.
The actress, 62, opened up about the emotional roller coaster she’s been riding since Paul’s passing. Paul had served in the army and committed suicide in March 2023 at the age of 42. Before their reconciliation in 2020, Tina described the challenging situations they both faced as a couple, including their split in 2019.
During the conversation, Tina was overcome with emotion as she recalled Paul’s service and the struggles he faced. In a promo clip, she shared: “My husband fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland. He went from Belize to Cyprus, and he had a wonderful life in the army. But 4.8 veterans take their own lives in the UK every week.”
She urged more people to be aware of the problem, saying, “You never hear about it, and it needs to change now.”
Tina revealed last year that her husband, a veteran of the military, committed suicide. His mental health had fallen drastically in the 12 months leading up to his death. I hadn’t discussed this in public until this minute, Tina said at the time. For the first time in my opinion, I have confirmed it. Paul did kill himself. I think there is truth.
The TV personality continued, “I’ll never get over it. I adore and miss him dearly. One thing I am aware of is that he is more advantageous than we are.
Paul served his country for ten years before being given the nickname “Chevy” by Army pals as a result of his surname. However, he was ultimately overthrown by the enemy inside. And Tina “just knew” when police knocked on their shared home in Liverpool. She had previously stated that “Paul hadn’t arrived home the night before.” I recognized the sirens, the flashing blue lights, and the sirens.
Tina and Paul got married after falling in love in the unlikely setting of a boot camp in 2009 despite the 21-year age difference. They had daughter Flame, who is now 10, when she was 50. She admits, “I really wouldn’t want to be here if I didn’t have Flame.”
She described how Paul had turned to drinking and drugs as a result of his downward spiral of anxiety and depression. She said, “He felt empty and lost.” He was unable to continue fighting. Drugs weren’t just for fun. Drinking was not social.
Following campaigns supported by this newspaper to support veterans returning to civilian life, the Ministry of Defense finally released data on the number of suicides among military veterans for the first time last year. In 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics, veterans aged 35 to 44 had an average suicide rate of 33.5 per 100 000, compared to 18.8 per 100 000 in the most recent figures.
And veterans with mental health issues, like those who work for Icarus, are only too aware of the need for quick, efficient assistance. According to medical director Sarah Jones, “the better the outcome is the sooner someone gets professional help.”
Four years ago, Paul was diagnosed with PTSD. Tina founded Paul’s Flame, a foundation that helps those in crisis, on May 28 for his birthday. She said, “You have depression, you have emotional issues because of what you’ve seen,” and he would rant about the army when he was drunk. But he would discard it. If he had that, he might ask, “How will I get a job?” In the end, he acknowledged it, but by that point, things had already gotten too far.
This man fought for his country, they say. I can only survive by attempting to help others, advocating for change, and addressing the issues facing veterans and soldiers.
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
