Love Island is back – with more rigorous psychological testing than ever before after tragic suicides
LOVE Island is returning this summer – with more psychological testing than ever before after the deaths of Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
The Sun has been shown the latest contract issued to contestants which reveals the more stringent process to being signed up.
Those who get past the audition stage will go through three rounds of testing to ensure they are fit and well enough to appear on the ITV2 series.
And like in previously years, they will also be required to provide their doctors’ details and list any medications they may be taking.
The contestants will be monitored throughout the show and like before, support teams are on hand to help anyone struggling.
The revamped contract comes after ITV bosses said they were addressing their duty of care.
Their actions came after series two star Sophie was found dead aged 32.
While Mike who appeared on Love Island in 2017, took his own life in March 2019 aged 26.
The show’s host Caroline Flack also took her life aged 40 in February 2020.
Love Island was rested that year as bosses went on to reveal it had become impossible to make it work due to the pandemic.
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
While discussing its comeback at the start of this month, ITV top boss Carolyn McCall, 59, said the show’s bosses had drafted a raft of changes.
She said last month: “The procedures, the processes, and the duty of care we have is world class. I know we have strength in that.
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“It’s not because ITV wasn’t doing that well in the past. It’s simply because social media has genuinely intensified what happens on a show… it’s a big shift.
“We’ve done a lot of work on casting, what happens in the show but also on the aftercare.
“We’ve been forensic about it, particular through the lens of social media and what they will experience when they come out of the show.”