Two suicides prompt reality TV stars to call for more mental health support

Australian reality TV stars have called for more mental health support post-production, following the suicides of two Love Island UK contestants in the past nine months.

Former Australian reality TV stars have called for more support post-production, after the suicides of two Love Island UK contestants in the past nine months.

Love Island UK 2016 contestant Mike Thalassitis took his own life last week, while his co-star Sophie Gradon did the same last June.

Lauren Huntriss said being on Married At First Sight had affected her mental health Picture: Lauren Huntriss/Instagram

Concerns have been raised over the welfare of contestants on the current Married At First Sight — which is breaking ratings records and pulling in more than one million viewers each episode — after “bride” Lauren Huntriss claimed being on the show had affected her mental health.

And former Married At First Sight contestant Tracey Jewel said she suffered depression and anxiety after appearing on the series and claimed that, when she reached out for help, the advice was “get off social media and seek help”.

2018 contestant Tracey Jewel said she suffered depression after appearing on MAFS. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“When they get you on these shows they promise you the world, they promise you they are going to be there no matter what and give help and advice, and because you don’t know any different, you kind of just trust them that they will look after you, but when they don’t, you’re all alone, it’s not fair,” Jewel told The Daily Telegraph.

Similar challenges have been faced by other reality shows, including Big Brother, The Bachelor and Love Island.

Former Big Brother star Tully Smyth, in a social media post following Thalassitis’s death, said she remembered being “being in a similar dark place back in 2013 and that terrifies me”.

“The networks and producers (of reality TV shows), the show psychologists and PR teams need to do more in terms of supporting (the contestants),” she wrote.

Former Love Island UK contestant Mike Thalassitis committed suicide last week. Picture: Instagram

Fellow Love Island UK star Sophie Gradon took her life last year. Picture: Instagram

Counselling psychotherapist Dr Karen Phillip, who has worked with former reality TV contestants, agreed that more support was needed once the cameras stopped rolling.

“I don’t believe production companies are doing enough and I don’t believe they understand how much support they require post-production,” Dr Phillip said.

“They should be keeping in contact with them for six to 12 months, having a counsellor or psychologist checking in on them post-production and giving them support where they require.”

Former Big Brother star Tully Smyth said she ended up in a ‘dark place’ mentally. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

After appearing as The Bachelor, Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins also spoke about the toll the reality show had on his mental health.

“I’ve never been in a mental space as low as I have been on that show,” Cummins said soon after the finale, where he infamously went home single, aired.

However Jake Ellis, who appeared on both The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, said he did receive the support he required to deal with the pressures of filming, falling in love and public scrutiny, as well as his mother’s death from breast cancer soon after he finished filming.

Nick Cummins said he had never felt so low as after his time on The Bachelor.

The Daily Telegraph contacted each network and producers of popular reality TV series, who all said the welfare of contestants was a priority and access to psychologists was offered both during and after filming.

Love Island Australia producer ITV Studios Australia said a psychologist was available “on-site 24/7 during filming”, while follow-up care was also provided “to ensure a smooth adjustment on the contestant’s return home”.

Nine said Married At First Sight participants were offered “one-on-one briefings on how to deal with and manage their social media”, including bullying and trolling.

Warner Bros, which produces The Bachelor franchise, said: “Duty of care for participants is taken very seriously, with professional support provided throughout their whole experience.”

Channel 7 said psychological support for contestants on its reality shows, including My Kitchen Rules, “continues well after the show has finished its on-air run”.