Nicola Bulley had 'significant issues with alcohol' and menopause struggles before vanishing - police

msn.com:

Missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley had suffered "significant issues with alcohol" in the past which resurfaced in recent months, police said. Detectives previously said Ms Bulley, 45, had "specific vulnerabilities" that made her a "high-risk" missing person - but did not specify what those were.

A subsequent statement by the Lancashire force said: "Nicola had in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause and that these struggles had resurfaced over recent months. ""This caused some real challenges for Paul and the family," it added in a reference to Ms Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell. As it happened - police update on Nicola Bulley's disappearanceThe force said a response car staffed by police and health professionals "attended a report of concern for welfare" at Ms Bulley's home on 10 January. "No one has been arrested in relation to this incident, but it is being investigated," according to Lancashire Police.

Ms Bulley, from Inskip, was last seen on the morning of Friday 27 January while walking her dog Willow on a footpath by the river in St Michael's on Wyre after dropping off her daughters, aged six and nine, at school in the village.

Read more:Timeline - what were Nicola Bulley's last movements?Community 'in shock' over dog walker's disappearanceHow local knowledge could help despite 'toxic' interest'Unusual step'Police acknowledged it was an unusual move to divulge such personal information about a missing person, but said they wanted to explain what they meant by "vulnerabilities".