These Are The New Measures Being Put In Place For Love Islanders' Mental Health

The tragic death of 26-year-old reality star Mike Thalassitis has led to serious questions being asked about the aftercare given to contestants on Love Island to ensure that their mental health does not suffer from the impact of becoming hugely famous overnight.

Ex-Islanders including Malin Andersson and Kady McDermott have spoken out about the lack of support that they have received since leaving the show and Jonny Mitchell has launched a petition for ITV to commit to better aftercare for contestants.

In response to the criticism, ITV's creative director Richard Cowles penned a letter to The Sun detailing the measures that will be taken from now on to help protect future Islanders.

The letter underlines the fact that 'It is not for us to speculate on the reasons behind this tragedy and what is so heartbreaking is that we simply cannot know' but acknowledges that Love Island was responsible for putting Mike in the spotlight.

Cowles goes on to outline the three stages of care currently in place for Islanders - pre-filming, filming and aftercare. This includes having all shortlisted contestants assessed by both a psychological consultant, an independent GP and their own GP, before they are allowed to appear on the show.

Going forward, Cowles reveals the channel will be making some big changes to their aftercare procedures, as detailed in the video above.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you can call Samaritans free any time on 116 123 (this number will not appear on your phone bill), send an email to jo@samaritans.org or visit your local branch for support.

Image: Getty