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MasterChef star Brent Draper breaks down on The Project
MasterChef's Brent Draper broke down on The Project on Monday night, after quitting the cooking competition on Sunday night's episode.
The 31-year-old spoke about why he felt he needed to step back from the show and revealed he now feels much better than he did when he finished up on the show, which was filmed a few months ago.
"I'm doing a lot better than that moment there, I just teared up watching that then," he told the hosts after watching the moment he told judge Jock Zonfrillo he "just had nothing left" in him to continue on with the competition.
"I got back and just really had to go and get some help," he said, adding once he got home he did the things that "ground" him, like surfing and spending time with family.
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Speaking of leaving the competition, he explained to the hosts, "It was a fair few things that come together."
"I had a passing in the family, my mum had a few health problems before I went, I quarantined twice. The homesickness just hurts," he said.
He said that he didn't deal with his feelings "very well" which led to him "declining pretty quickly" during the competition.
Brent explained he's the guy who's always laughing and having fun and this was the "first hit" of anxiety and declining mental health that he'd ever experienced.
"I just hope I have inspired a few fellas to say it is ok to ask for help. Nothing comes out of it negative. I've only gotten stronger, I haven't got weaker," he explained. "Being able to talk more with my mates, open up a lot more, which makes me so much stronger as a person, I believe."
He added that he didn't have "a worry in the world" prior to that experience and encouraged other men to check in with their mates, because you don't know what someone might be going through.
Waleed Aly congratulated him on being so open and honest with Australia about what he was going through, saying, "What you've done's bigger than winning the competition."
Mental health support for yourself or a loved one can be found by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. Online support is available via Beyond Blue.
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