"I was struggling" - Valerie Bertinelli says her on-screen mom Bonnie Franklin helped her seek mental health support at 20

On the April 9 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, Valerie Bertinelli opened up about struggling with mental health. Food Network alum Bertinelli started her Hollywood career early. She was only 15 when she joined the cast of the CBS Sitcom One Day At A Time and had to rely on the support of her on-screen mom, the late Bonnie Franklin.

Valerie and Barrymore discussed a conversation where Ariana Grande had mentioned that studios and labels should include therapy in their clients' contracts. The two women agreed, and looked back the time, when she initially started therapy. She said:

"Ariana is absolutely spot-on. I think people need that support, absolutely. There are people who have the lived experience. So I don't feel like she would say these things for sensationalism or righteousness, she's saying them in advocacy of supporting people."

Bertinelli mentioned that it was Bonnie Franklin who made her consider therapy at the time. According to a Variety report, she said on The Drew Barrymore Show:

"I mean, I finally went to Bonnie by the time I turned 20. And said, I'm struggling. And she could see that I was struggling, and she sent me to a psychiatrist. She sent me to a therapist."

Barrymore responded, asking:

"Your mom on TV mom'd you and sent you to therapy?"

Bertinelli said yes.

Valerie Bertinelli mentions going alcohol-free has helped with her mental health

Her recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show isn't the first time that the star has opened up about struggling with mental health. Valerie Bertinelli has been documenting her alcohol-free journey on her Instagram stories, and in one of her stories she noted:

"I haven't had a drink in 15 months and it's made such a difference in my mental health."

Valerie Bertinelli is a new adition to The Drew Barrymore Show as a lifestyle expert, and in an October 2024 episode talked about her struggles with mental health while going through menopause.

While Bertinelli was happy about the advanced medicine and the availability of doctors in the present generation, she also had the most challenging phase. She noted:

"I'm at a point now where I'm eight years out but I've also probably had the most challenging, difficult, heartbreaking eight years of my life, in my entire 64 years."

Valerie Bertinelli also noted that,

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"nobody talks about how menopause could be harder to deal with than periods."

During the same time, in another conversation with People, Valerie mentioned the importance of not numbing "emotional pain."

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