Mental health: Nine told to hire psychologist after MAFS, reality fallout
Channel 9 has been warned of serious gaps in its operations and told to overhaul its reality television format after several stars went public with mental health struggles as a result of appearing on the small screen.
NSW
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After a raft of its stars went off the rails in the past 12 months Channel 9 has been told to implement changes to its ratings-winning stable of reality shows over serious mental health concerns.
A report handed to the broadcaster by leading psychologist Dr Kate Baecher says Nine has a “robust duty of care system” but has warned there are serious gaps in its operations.
One of the recommendations in the report suggests Nine hire a consultant psychologist to keep a handle on its occasionally wayward stars while also highlighting its lack of a risk management system or register.
Nine “has been proactive and forward thinking in its implementation of its duty of care responsibilities” and “largely met the requirements of Workplace Health and Safety legislation”, according to the report.
Dr Baecher recommended Nine only work with production companies who also agree to work under strict standards.
Dr Baecher herself is well-versed in reality television having worked on The Bachelor and I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here in recent years.
The report comes after a string of controversies involving its participants on runaway success Married At First Sight, including the hospitalisation of bride Natasha Spencer in April.
Ms Spencer told The Sunday Telegraph at the time she was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital over mental health concerns ahead of the explosive reunion episode.
She was held under section 22 of the NSW Mental Health Act and underwent a psychiatric assessment.
“On Friday, I had a mental breakdown and the police were called to my apartment,” Spencer said earlier this year.
“My neighbours called because they were worried I was going to harm myself. I was taken to The Royal North Shore Hospital in an ambulance and I was released within a couple of hours.”
Ms Spencer had lashed out at the production company behind the show for a bad edit which she said led to vicious trolling on social media.
The report added that Nine’s current systems otherwise met the high standards of broadcasters in the United Kingdom and the British Psychiatric Society.