Ari Behn – Open on Pain:

On Friday, the first day of Christmas, it was one year since Norway received the sad news that artist and author Ari Behn had left the world. The 47-year-old man left friends, the royal family and an entire town in mourning.

Late on Christmas Day, Princess Märtha Louise shared a post about her ex-husband on Instagram.

– still unreal

– loved

“I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This year has been a very different Christmas celebration because Ari, the beloved father of my three daughters, is no longer with us. Last year he chose to leave this planet on this day,” writes the princess and add:

“We celebrate his life today, we mourn his loss and how much we miss him. It has been a day of love for everything.”

Märtha also encourages everyone to ask for help.

“Life hits us all. We can’t help it. We have to face it. I communicate with all of you who are struggling during the holidays. We who are loved. Know that it is necessary. Know that it is worth the help you can get. For Please ask for help. Express how you feel. You are loved, “he concludes.

Brighten mental health

Ari’s daughter, Leah Isadora Behn (15), also shared a few words a year later. Like his mother, he also goes through Instagram.

She begins by wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, before writing the following:

“Today a year ago, Dad took his own life and it really has been one of the most difficult years of my life,” he writes.

In addition, it draws attention to people who are or feels alone and encourages them not to be. Leah then emphasizes the importance of focusing on mental health, before encouraging those in need to reach out to someone they can talk to.

Advertiser content

In this way, Norwegians can save NOK 4.25 billion in interest costs.

“I know that I would rather hear his problems than go to his funeral,” he concludes.

Unni Askeland and Per Heimly have also talked about missing their good friend Ari.

Our own Crown Princess Mette-Marit (47) also spoke about grief, when she was interviewed by NRK in connection with the traditional program “The Year with the Royal Family” which aired on the channel on Christmas Day.

– I think it’s still difficult to talk about that. Ari was a person that he loved very, very much, and that everyone loved very much, who fought the way he did and who decided to end his life. It’s very heavy, he told the channel.

– Crying every day for Ari

Ari Behn and Märtha Louise have three children together, including Leah Isadora and Emma Tallulah Behn (12). His eldest daughter, Maud Angelica Behn (17), like the aforementioned Leah, has also been open about the pain.

– They listen and understand

As everyone remembers, Maud gave a heartbreaking speech at Ari’s funeral, and since then she has also spoken about the loss of her father. In the time since, the 17-year-old daughter has fought for more openness about mental health, and over the past year she received multiple awards just for this.

– I did not do it

In the aforementioned program “The year with the royal family” also spoke of the speech that Maud gave.

– It was amazing that she succeeded, says Queen Sonja of her granddaughter.

For her outspokenness about mental illness and suicide, Tara magazine named her “Bravest Woman of the Year” and awarded her the 2020 Acute Psychiatry Award.

In a recent interview with VG Helg, Maud Angelica spoke about the good relationship with her parents and the enormous support she has received from her mother, Princess Märtha Louise (49).

– I talk to my mother and other people in my life, and that’s really what helps the most. They don’t even have to say anything nice, but that they listen to me, understand me and accept me, that’s really what helps the most when I’m having a hard time, he tells the newspaper.

READ ALSO: The detail draws attention