‘It’s really difficult’: From Abbie Chatfield to Chloe Lattanzi, stars reveal the truth about mental health

In a series of candid interviews, Abbie Chatfield, Chloe Lattanzi, Brooke Blurton and more speak about their mental health journeys, and how they have handled the more challenging side of life.

It’s a time of year to pause and reflect on the year that’s been - and what’s ahead in 2024. Abbie Chatfield, Chloe Latanzzi, Brooke Blurton and Taryn Brumfitt are among the stars who have spoken publicly about their mental health journeys, and how they have handled the more challenging side of life - including grief and mental illness - in a series of intimate conversations that have taken place on Stellar’s podcast, Something To Talk About, this year.

Lattanzi sat down with Stellar ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of her mother, Olivia Newton-John.

“I got absolute oceans of love and support and connection,” Lattanzi told Something To Talk About.

Abbie Chatfield spoke about her ADHD diagnosis in a revealing interview with Stellar’s podcast, Something To Talk About. Picture: MATRIX

“I would have fans reaching out - you know: ‘If you ever need anything [or] anyone to talk to…’ or, ‘We love you so much.’ It was kind of a lifeboat. It was beautiful, all these people sending so much love to our family and loving my mother.

“I treasure what they all gave me, which was support and kindness [that] really lifted me out of dark places.”

Listen to the full episode on Something To Talk About below or wherever you get your podcasts:

It is a moving conversation about grief, as is our interview with Waleed Aly, who opens up about spending time with his mother-in-law in her final hours, and how it brought closure - particularly given he was unable to be with his own father when he passed a decade ago.

Chatfield explains how her ADHD diagnosis brought new clarity and helped her better understand her behaviour. “Having ADHD is not a fun, silly, quirky thing,” Chatfield says. “It’s really difficult. You have a hypersensitivity to rejection and emotions.

Chloe Lattanzi spoke about losing her mother, Olivia Newton-John, in an interview on Something To Talk About. Picture: Beau Grealy for Stellar

“I get overstimulated really easily. And I have a job that is constantly stimulation. And sometimes things get too much. And it’s very hard to have interpersonal relationships without getting too invested in all these things.

“So it isn’t ‘a trend’. It isn’t really fun. But it is important to spread diagnosis. And I think that speaking about it helps others. Even if they don’t get a formal diagnosis, they are relieved of shame.”

Blurton reveals how a childhood that left her feeling like an outcast to the wider Australian community informs her passion to fight for representation for First Nations people.

And Australian of the Year Brumfitt fires up about why accepting and celebrating our bodies is a decision we’ll never regret, while Lisa Greenberg gives a searingly honest account of living with - and finally confronting - alcohol addiction.

Listen to the summer series of Stellar’s podcast Something To Talk About below or wherever you get your podcasts:

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Something To Talk About will return with brand new episodes in late January 2024.

Originally published as ‘It’s really difficult’: From Abbie Chatfield to Chloe Lattanzi, stars reveal the truth about mental health