You probably know Rob ‘Millsy’ Mills best as a one-time Australian Idol and the butt of endless Paris Hilton jokes or you might know him from his more recent turn as a star of the Australian musical theatre scene.
But whilst discussing the latest string he’s added to his bow, Mills revealed there were unseen pitfalls to dealing with the instant fame that was thrust upon him as the heartthrob of the first season of Australian Idol.
As Yahoo reports, Mills is an ambassador for R U OK? Day. On 8th September, Australians around the country are encouraged to start an important conversion about mental health by simply asking each other if they’re doing okay.
“It’s very important to ask those questions, not just of other people around you, but of yourself as well,” Mills told Yahoo. “Surround yourself with people who help you with that, even if it’s just a mate, or a psychologist, psychiatrist. I’m a massive advocate of that as well.”
We’ve heard about the intense pressures of sudden fame as well as the challenges that come with working within the Australian entertainment industry. Mills unfortunately experienced these first hand, and they even led to thoughts of suicide.
“That was the worst, I freaked out,” Rob told Yahoo. “I contemplated suicide only once in my life, and that was the week after I finished Idol.” Mills said he quickly realised he didn’t want any of the trappings that come with fame.
“I think it’s the worst thing to ever hear from a child’s mouth, ‘“What do you want to be when you grow up?’ ‘I want to be famous,’” he added. “I don’t think you should ever want to be just famous.”
I think you should want to travel to the moon, you should want to design something the world has never seen before. Or be an elite athlete, or a scientist, or a politician.” Mills isn’t the first Idol contestant to touch on its unique pressures.
Matt Corby, who’s gone on to find success on his own terms as a singer-songwriter, previously stated that going on Idol was a “mistake”, as it hindered his ability to control the public’s perception of his artistry.
Meanwhile, a 2015 Victoria University survey featuring 2,900 participants from the entertainment industry ranging from singers and actors, to roadies and riggers found that the rate of attempted suicide in the industry is more than double the rest of the population.
In the past 12 months, those surveyed considered taking their own lives almost seven times more than the general population. According to the study, one in every 14 performers surveyed admitted to making an attempt on their life.
The figures for those working behind the scenes, such as roadies and technicians, were even more shocking, at almost one in 12. To put that in context, the figure is roughly one in 30 people for the wider Australian population.
If you or someone you know needs personal help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636.
