Dr Alex George has said production teams and television channels behind reality shows have a responsibility for the mental health of contestants.
The 32-year-old television personal and medic, who shot to fame in 2018 after appearing on ITV dating show Love Island, said it was up to television executives who put contestants “in the spotlight” to ensure their mental health was looked after.
He said contestants needed to be supported throughout their time on the shows - adding reviews of the support they received should be regularly reviewed and led by the contestants themselves.
He said: “I think there is a responsibility for a show or organisation if you are going to bring someone on and then put them in the spotlight - you should have a level of responsibility for their mental health.
“As I understand, and I can only really talk about Love Island - I think there have been steps made. I was well supported before and after, but anecdotally, my experience does not replicate everyones. There was much more development while I was on the [ITV mental health safeguarding] board in terms of support before, during and after.”
Dr Alex continued: “I think it is something that needs to be reviewed - and it is something that needs to consistently be led by the contributors and what they feel needs to be better.”
ITV said it has comprehensive measures to safeguard contestants on Love Island that are informed by previous contestants and professionals working in the field of mental health. Measures include psychological support, social media training, and information about the potential impact of taking part in the show.
It comes after the hosts of the newly-launched Big Brother - AJ Odudu and Will Best - asked audiences not to troll housemates.
The pair reminded fans to be kind online to a new batch of contestants ahead of the series returning to British TV screens last Sunday. It was axed in 2018 from Channel 5 due to a dive in ratings.
Ahead of the launch show on Sunday evening, 35-year-old Odudu said in a video posted in Instagram: “Please do remember that all of our housemates are real people with their real lives.
“If you wouldn’t say anything to them in person, please watch out what you say to them online.”
TV presenter Best, 38, said: “We all just want to be fair and kind to everybody, and that way we can all enjoy this series together and we can support our housemates on the show and beyond.”
Dr Alex was speaking around his partnership with ASICS and mental health charity Mind about the impact of exercise on mental health.
The study found that 68 per cent of British people who didn’t exercise said it was because they were too embarrassed to go to the gym in fear they didn’t fit the mould of the “typical” exerciser. The campaign wants to refocus how people approach the gym and how a personal best doesn’t need to be beating physical goals, but simply keeping their mind happy.
Dr Alex, who has recently lost weight by increasing his uptake of exercise, said the benefits of his new regime to his mental health outstripped the physical impact.
“My primary goal of movement in general - and I say movement in general rather than just going to the gym - is about that feeling, and that mental health perspective. Honestly, it is a godsend, when you feel under pressure and you feel really stressed - movement and exercise is just amazing for changing that sense of how you feel.
“One of the biggest benefits of exercise is what it does for your mind. It is about removing barriers to exercise and actually over the last year and a half I have lost a lot of weight. Initially, that was a barrier for me wanting to go to the gym - you feel overweight and overplace.
“But I overcame it by shifting that focus on to, firstly I have the same right as everyone else in this gym to be here but also I am doing it because I want to feel better and happier.”
