One Plus One

One Plus One

Airs Friday, 10 October at 10am on ABC

As part of ABC Mental As... during Mental Health Week

Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist diver Matthew Mitcham joins ONE PLUS ONE during ABC Mental As... The biggest ever cross-platform programming event conducted by the ABC, for Mental Health Week, 5-12 October

In a moving interview with Jane Hutcheon, the diver reveals that he still works at keeping his depression and addiction to alcohol and drugs at bay with ongoing therapy and group programs.

'Even though I don't think I struggle as much (now)," he tells Hutcheon, 'those meetings are full of pearls of wisdom that help you not just with trying to live with your alcohol or addiction, but with life. You are sharing the wisdom of people who have lived many more years than you have."

He's found new happiness performing his cabaret act, which was launched earlier this year.  The cabaret shares the same name as his tell-all book Twists and Turns.

The cabaret has helped him to share his story and connect with people, he says.

'The more you talk about stuff, the more it breaks down the stigma around mental health and around substance abuse and I think we need to talk about it more," says Mitcham.

'So many people don't feel strong enough to reach out just because of the stigma around this stuff."

Matthew Mitcham rose to fame at the age of 18 after winning gold at the Beijing Olympics in the 10metre platform diving.

He trained as an elite athlete after being -discovered' at the age of 11, but throughout his teens he struggled with depression and took a range of hard drugs to mask the depression.

He also talks about coming to terms with being gay.

ONE PLUS ONE with Matthew Mitcham screens during ABC Mental As... The biggest ever cross-platform programming event conducted by the ABC, for Mental Health Week, 5-12 October. A week long initiative across ABC TV, radio, online and mobile, ABC Mental As… will take a look at mental health from all angles and perspectives, from comedy to documentary, entertainment to debate, as we aim to help join the dots on mental health in Australia.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 ONE PLUS ONE: Jane Hutcheon speaks with Matthew Mitcham

Airs Friday, 10 October at 10am on ABC

REPEAT TIMES:

Friday, 10 October at 8.30pm, ABC News 24

Saturday, 11 October at 6.30am & 5.30pm, ABC News 24

Sunday, 12 October at 9.30pm, ABC News 24

You can view previous episodes of ONE PLUS ONE online at: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/one-plus-one/