Seven star Matt Doran opens up about his struggles with depression – after ‘going missing’ during report

Seven-star Matt Doran spoke candidly about his struggle with depression on a live broadcast of The Morning Show, after concerns emerged about his mental health in recent years.

The 41-year-old breakfast show presenter revealed his troubles on Friday when he and co-host Kylie Gillies interviewed psychologist and author Mark Cross.

As the guest promoted his latest book, Mental State, about mental health care in Australia, Matt bravely spoke about his own struggle with depression.

“Do you think we would be better, Doctor, if we raised our hands like you and said, ‘I have a problem with anxiety’?” Matt asked Dr. Cross.

‘I’ve also suffered a lot from depression in recent years, but I think people are still afraid to say that.’

“It’s amazing that you say that… the more we talk about it, the better it is,” said Dr. Cross, who praised Matt for speaking so openly about his depression on television.

Matt has caused a stir in recent years after mysteriously disappearing from work twice.

In June, he failed to show up at Seven Studios for work on Weekend Sunrise, leaving producers scrambling for a replacement, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He was replaced by news reporter Chris Reason, who co-hosted the morning show on Saturday, June 8, with Monique Wright.

A Channel Seven spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia at the time that Matt was “on leave”.

Matt’s disappearance comes a year after he sparked a frantic police search while on a work assignment in the Hunter Valley in June last year.

The star reporter had been sent to cover a wedding bus crash that killed 10 people, but failed to show up for his 5:30 a.m. shift on June 13.

According to insiders, producers went looking for Matt at his hotel in Singleton, but there was no knock on his door.

The morning show host revealed his troubles on Friday when he and co-host Kylie Gillies interviewed psychologist and author Mark Cross

The renowned crime reporter was last seen speaking to members of the Singleton community at a local football field.

Earlier, locals had watched Matt leave the home of newlyweds Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, whose wedding was at the centre of the tragedy.

When the reporter didn’t respond to phone calls, texts and emails prior to his Sunrise appearance, a producer checked his hotel room.

Concerned colleagues contacted the police, who issued a missing person report.

Matt was eventually found in a nearby pub and was quickly replaced on air by his colleague Liam Tapper.

It comes after Matt sparked a frantic police investigation last year when he disappeared while on assignment in the Hunter Valley. The Star reporter had been sent to cover a wedding bus crash that killed 10 people, but he failed to show up for his 5.30am shift on June 13, 2023

Insiders say several factors may have contributed to his disturbing behavior, with one suggesting that Matt was struggling to cope with the confrontational nature of the tragedy surrounding the bus crash at his wedding.

Matt took several weeks of personal leave after he disappeared in the Hunter Valley and reportedly spent time at home to ‘prioritise his health’.

He was replaced at Weekend Sunrise by his colleague Michael Usher.

Matt, who began his career as a police reporter at the Herald Sun, joined Seven in 2017 after spending almost eight years in Network Ten’s newsroom.

Two years later, he was promoted to his current role as co-host of Weekend Sunrise, alongside Monique Wright, after occasionally filling in for weekday presenter David Koch.