Hélène Risser: The Courage of a Broken Mother Who Rises Again

Hélène Risser and her latest book

Hélène Risser, a renowned journalist, long admired for her keen insight into politics and society, today embodies the resilience of a mother who has lost the most essential. Revealed to the general public through her sharp analyses on Public Sénat, notably in the show Déshabillons-les, where she scrutinizes the communication of political figures, Risser has built a career marked by rigor and depth of analysis. But in 2022, fate takes a turn. The sudden loss of her son Arthaud, at just 21 years old, shatters her life. Since then, with poignant authenticity, she puts words to a pain that defies all imagination.

In her book, Après Arthaud, she opens up with disconcerting sincerity, sharing the weight of her grief and the long path of mourning she undertakes, offering a rare testimony on this pain of infinite intensity.

A career rooted in the quest for truth

Hélène Risser’s path was not predestined. Born into a family of doctors, she grew up in an intellectual yet humble environment, where integrity is paramount. After studying economics and art history, she chose journalism, a profession she approaches with the enthusiasm of a quest. Her beginnings at Le Monde and then in media like Capital and Arrêt sur Images forged her incisive style. In 2006, she joined Public Sénat, where Déshabillons-les established her with the public as an essential voice in political analysis. With rare skill, she decodes the speeches and postures of leaders, enlightening viewers on the subtleties of power.

Her approach, both striking and nuanced, earns her the respect of her peers and the admiration of viewers, who see in her a pillar of transparency in the media landscape.

A winter morning when everything collapses

Hélène Risser’s trajectory takes a tragic turn in 2022. One morning, the unthinkable happens: she finds her son Arthaud lifeless in his room. The emergency services can only confirm the irreparable. In a heart-wrenching interview on Sept à Huit, she speaks of that suspended moment, where incomprehension mingles with visceral guilt.

"I am a mother, I should protect my child. It’s a failure," she confides. "How did I not realize, just a few meters away, that he was dying?" This haunting phrase becomes the reflection of her torment, an echo of her pain.

Guilt, a silent companion

For Hélène, this guilt seeps into every moment, every thought. She reproaches herself for not having detected a sign, a silent plea for help. In seeking answers, she delves into the details of the autopsy: a fatal combination of medications, alcohol, and Subutex, harmless when taken separately but deadly together. These elements neither dispel the grief nor the anger, sometimes directed at a healthcare system she deems failing. She questions Arthaud’s therapeutic follow-up and the decisions of a clinic that allegedly discharged him too soon. But she knows that this anger, although legitimate, will not bring her peace.

An unfathomable grief, borne with rare dignity

The grief of losing a child is a burden that never weakens. For Hélène, every corner of her house whispers Arthaud’s presence. His room, left as it was, becomes a sanctuary that only her daughter sometimes dares to cross. These objects, these walls, hold the memory of the lost son, turning each day into a silent struggle.

To find a semblance of comfort, Hélène joins support groups. "Talking with other parents is vital. Only they can understand," she says. This sharing eases the isolation and creates a bond among those who know this inexpressible pain.

Writing to give a voice to memory

Writing then becomes her refuge. In Après Arthaud, she addresses not only bereaved parents but also those who seek to grasp the unspeakable. Through this book, Hélène attempts to transcend her grief, to give meaning to the loss. "I don’t want this suffering to remain silent. It must touch, perhaps help those who also suffer," she asserts. This testimony, intimate and visceral, becomes an act of transmission, a way to make Arthaud survive beyond the silence.

A quest for justice and resilience

This journey of mourning is accompanied by a professional ordeal. In 2022, Hélène is dismissed from Public Sénat following a disagreement over a historical documentary. Two years later, she wins her case at the labor court, which annuls this dismissal and orders her reinstatement, recognizing the brutality of the rupture. This legal decision, although symbolic, sheds light on her path marked by the injustice of an incomprehensible loss.

Today, despite the weight of a grief that will never fade, Hélène Risser continues to defend her values and pursue her vocation with passion. Through her journey, she shows that it is possible, after the unimaginable, to find the strength to rise again. By honoring her son with her words, Hélène Risser offers a testimony of dignity and courage, reminding us that even in the most absolute pain, the voice of hope can still be heard.

Order the book Après Arthaud from Fnac (France)

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