"Panic attacks, substance abuse": Rob Mill's mental health confession

WATCH: Rob Mills discusses mental health battle after Australian IdolMills spoke to WHO during a break in his current rehearsal schedule, for musical Hairspray, about his own mental health journey and how important it is to check in with friends.“I suffered a panic attack many years ago after Australian Idol.

I think it came from a bit of substance abuse, drinking and stuff,” he shares.“It was probably at a time where I really didn’t know who I was as a person, and I hadn’t really done any self-exploration.

I had a lot of self-confidence, but not a lot of self-worth.”Since then, Mills has been on a journey to take “stock of what it is that I want in life” and understand “who the person is I want to be”.Mills has been on a journey to take “stock of what it is that I want in life”.Booking in monthly visits with a mental health professional, spending time both alone and with friends, plus throwing himself into reading “beautiful fiction stories”, Mills is finally in a good place.During the 2020 lockdown, the musical theatre performer took a course in mental health support to become more “aware of how to help people” and to learn about the “importance of being vulnerable”.He also threw himself into writing his book, Putting on a Show.

Part memoir, part self-help tome, Mills explores what it means to be an Aussie bloke these days.“It’s about masculinity, manhood and mateship,” he said. “I interviewed some lovely people that I have looked up to and admired throughout my journey."He also threw himself into writing his book, Putting on a Show.He continues: “It explores the things I’ve learned through my work with R U OK?