TRisks to reality The mental health of television participants is increasing every year as broadcasters and producers continue to push the boundaries to create more interesting and engaging entertainment. However, while psychologists are increasingly being asked to advise on such works, experts say they do not always have the appropriate qualifications and that their advice is not always followed up. It states that it will not be done.
In the wake of allegations of manipulative and forced treatment and suicide of performers on reality shows such as “Love Island” and “The Jeremy Kyle Show,” television and film companies have stepped up efforts to protect the mental health of participants. ing. They are also under pressure to attract audiences amid increased competition and financial strain.
“I think with any project you have to keep the audience on alert. So we have to keep pushing genres and pushing boundaries to make more interesting and engaging television,” he said last week. said Dr Howie Fine, a consultant clinical psychologist who worked on Channel 4's 'Jury: Murder Trial' which aired.
“We have this morbid curiosity, evidenced by the rise of true crime documentaries and shows like 'The Jury,' and we're increasingly intrigued by the dark. . And if we continue to push those boundaries, that means greater and greater risk.”
Fine is one of a growing number of media production psychologists being hired to assess participants and develop strategies to build their resilience and support them throughout the production process. .
Fine said that high-profile shows that can afford such support are better able to limit risks to participants than in the past. Mr Fine also contributes to SAS Who Dares Wins, The Traitors UK and other programs through his company Mindzone Media. .
However, it was a complicated task. “I think it's on par with mental illness, eating disorders, self-harm, etc., because the potential risks are so great.” But unlike Fine, “media psychologist” is not a protected title. It means that anyone can call themselves.
The British Psychological Society (BPS) last week launched a directory of media production psychologists to help companies find suitable support. Professor John Oates, chair of the BPS' Media Ethics Advisory Group, said: 'It is important that the psychologists used by production companies have the necessary skills, training and registration to ensure the protection of all participants. It’s extremely important.”
Some formats present greater challenges than others. “Jury: Murder Trial” uses actors to re-run the trial and film juror deliberations to see if they reach the same conclusion as the original jurors, plus a secret second juror. The idea was to do so. In addition to being exposed to graphic testimony and navigating disagreements with fellow jurors, participants were also aware of the intense public scrutiny that would await them after submission.
Because of this, “unprecedented” care and attention was given to the manufacturing process, Fine said. However, even with the most careful planning, there are elements of unpredictability in any project.
“We can talk relatively well with participants and understand what scenarios they would respond to in a normal environment. But if we put them in a movie studio, a jury environment, or a social experiment… If you put them in that, you take them out of the norm,” Fine said.
“You also need to consider their motives. There may be obvious motives they tell you, but there may also be further motives, such as seeking public exposure or increasing their visibility on social media. ” If that is their motivation, it can already distort their behavior. ”
Further complicating matters, for other productions, psychologists say the details of the show are not always fully briefed or employed throughout the production process. .
Oates said: “Broadcasters and production companies are constantly exploring new formats and tweaks to formats, and these tend to come with new challenges that put psychological pressure on contributors.
“It is important for psychologists to know the details of these challenges in order to properly assess whether the poster is resilient enough to deal with and whether there are any vulnerabilities that could cause psychological harm.” However, the way production works is that they are often kept secret or come up with ideas on the spot.”
Psychologists' recommendations are not always implemented by the production team. “If you don't have senior-level support, the production company will take care of everything for you.” [the psychologist] “This is just a box-ticking exercise,” said Fiona Fletcher, head of production and welfare at Brighton-based Screendog Productions. The company produces fact-based social experiment programs such as “Jury: Murder Trial.''
Dr Matthew Gould, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Independent Adviser to ITV, said: Many positive initiatives have been introduced at these levels, but it is important to integrate all the separate parts. Because risks are dynamic, we must carefully monitor what causes harm and, importantly, identify which safeguards have the greatest positive impact. ”
Fletcher said it's not just obviously dire programs that need this kind of approach. “People should be supported because we are asking them to talk about their personal lives and experiences, even if they are appearing in a light documentary about owning a home in the countryside.
“Some people can handle it. Some people can handle it well on the surface, but then they come out the other side feeling like they're mentally destroyed because of it.”