Home And Away star Sam Frost opens up on lifelong depression battle

Former reality TV star turned Home And Away actress Sam Frost has spoken candidly about her mental health struggles, describing a low point when it all felt “toxic and negative”.

Home And Away actress Sam Frost has opened up about her ongoing battle with mental health issues in a candid new interview.

“For me, depression has been something that I’ve battled my whole life and I think that’s certainly heightened when you go through something publicly and you just feel that immense pressure,” the 30-year-old explained in the “Most Beautiful People” issue of Who magazine.

“You can feel it in your chest.”

Frost’s struggles were heightened after two high-profile breakups with reality TV boyfriends Blake Garvey in 2014 and Sasha Mielczarek in 2016 – both of whom she met within The Bachelor franchise. She also became a lightning rod for public criticism in 2016 after landing her first radio job alongside Rove McManus in the 2DayFM breakfast slot. The show was axed amid dismal ratings in 2017.

“I used to criticise myself heavily and so everything the critics were saying, I was thinking myself,” she told the publication. “It just felt toxic and negative from inside my mind.”

A few years on, and after finding success playing Jasmine Delaney on Seven’s long-running soap Home And Away, she said she’s finally learned to shrug off the negativity.

Sam Frost as Jasmine on Home And Away. Picture: Supplied/Channel 7

“I’m just going to be myself,” Frost said. “I’ve come to peace with the fact it’s fine if you don’t like me because I have so many beautiful people who are kind to me. I’m surrounded by love, and so I just focus on that.”

Frost launched a mental health platform with her sister Kristine, Believe by Sam Frost, last year in order to help others who are struggling to feel “understood”.

“People just want to feel connected,” Frost said. “We want to feel like people understand our pain. And I want to help.”
During the interview, the TV star also revealed she’s still “baffled” by her decision to sign on for The Bachelor (before later returning as The Bachelorette).

“Honestly, I cringe thinking about myself (back then),” she admitted. “I’m like, ‘Samantha, what were you thinking?’ It baffles me that I even did it in the first place.”