Friends of celebrity blogger Perez Hilton are concerned that his recent severe sepsis infection may have triggered a recent self-harm incident, a source close to the situation told Page Six. The source indicated that Hilton's inner circle fears he may be experiencing post-sepsis psychiatric disorder, a condition that can affect a significant portion of sepsis survivors.
According to the Sepsis Alliance, this disorder can manifest as new or worsened physical, cognitive, and psychological issues that persist for months or even years after a patient is discharged from the hospital. Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Andrew Mendonsa explained to Page Six that survivors of sepsis and other life-threatening illnesses can experience ongoing psychological and cognitive difficulties, including depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and problems with concentration or memory.
However, Dr. Mendonsa cautioned that not all sepsis survivors develop mental health conditions, emphasizing that while many recover without significant psychological problems, a notable group does struggle afterward. He also stated that without sufficient personal information about Hilton, he cannot definitively conclude whether his sepsis contributed to the mental health scare, noting that self-harm and suicidal behaviors are typically complex and influenced by multiple interacting factors, including medical, psychological, social, environmental, and situational elements.
Hilton, whose legal name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., was hospitalized for three weeks in March due to sepsis, which he attributed to taking flu medication on an empty stomach. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the body's extreme response to an infection can lead to organ damage, dangerously low blood pressure, and potentially death if not treated promptly. A month after his sepsis battle, Hilton was hospitalized again for emergency surgery to remove a large blood clot.
The entertainment personality was recently hospitalized again on Tuesday after he livestreamed acts of self-harm from his Miami home. Authorities responded to multiple calls reporting an individual engaged in self-harm on social media. Police stated that Hilton was safely recovered and transported to a local hospital for medical attention, with crisis response units and mental health professionals on hand to offer support to his family.
Surveillance footage showed a significant police presence outside Hilton's residence. Police were informed that Hilton was alone in the house at the time. However, his family stated that his children, niece, and sister were present in the home shortly before the incident. They immediately left to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma when it became apparent that Hilton was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself. Hilton is a father to three children: Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8.
A source told the Daily Mail that Hilton's first words upon being transported to the hospital were, "I need help." This source described him as "a man in a lot of pain," suggesting that while his current focus may be on physical recovery, the issues are interconnected.