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Love Island announce therapy sessions and financial training for stars to protect them after Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon’s suicides
LOVE Island bosses have revealed that they have increased their duty of care support to contestants after Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon's tragic deaths.
The show has come under renewed scrutiny after The Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled following the suspected suicide of guest Steve Dymond just days after he appeared on the show.
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Love Islanders will now be subject to a minimum of eight therapy sessions and under the show's care package for 14 months.
More key changes this year include bespoke training for all Islanders on financial management, social media management, more detailed conversations with potential Islanders regarding how the show could impact them and overall "enhanced psychological support".
A psychological consultant is set to be on hand before and after the show ends and extensive checks with Islanders' GPs will be carried out during the casting process.
ITV has said that a proactive aftercare package will last up until the end of the series that runs after they have appeared on the show.
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Panicking ITV’s Love Island letter to save show by helping contestants in wake of suspected suicides
Creative director of ITV Studios Entertainment Richard Cowles has told The Sun Online: “Due to the success of the show our Islanders can find themselves in the public eye following their appearance.
"We really want to make sure they have given real consideration to this and what appearing on TV entails.
"Discussing all of this with us forms a big part of the casting process and, ultimately, their decision to take part.
“Also, as we are outlining today our welfare processes follow three key stages: pre-filming, filming and aftercare and we are increasing our post filming support to help Islanders following their time in villa.”
The duty of care process for series 5 includes:
Pre Filming and Filming
- Psychological consultant engaged throughout the whole series - from pre-filming to aftercare.
- Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and discussion with each Islander’s own GP to check medical history.
- Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose any relevant medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the villa and the production’s ability to provide a suitable environment for them.
- Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear.
- Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them.
- Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid.
- A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after.
Aftercare
- Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.
- A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be provided to each Islander when they return home.
- Proactive contact with islanders for a period of 14 months up until the end of the next series. This means contact with the Islander will last for 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.
- We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.
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In September, two months after Sophie's death, Love Island drafted mental health expert and physician, Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Litchfield, to independently review their processes and oversee their duty of care.
He added in their statement: "I have reviewed Love Island’s duty of care processes from end to end and they show a degree of diligence that demonstrates the seriousness with which this is taken by the production team ...
"Professional input is a key element in safeguarding the wellbeing of Islanders but the genuine caring attitudes I have observed from those who make the show are as important."
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The Sun Online previously revealed that Love Island bosses had written a clause into this year's contract for the show that offers the stars' family support in addition to the Islanders.
Producers have extended the welfare section to the reality TV hopefuls' relatives to ensure that they can also get help during and after the series.
You need to be 18 or over to apply for the show
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others.
You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
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