Heroes to zero, that's the reality
09may04
THEY say watching the box can rot the brain and now, according to the experts, reality TV can be bad for your mental health.
Many contestants are experiencing post-show hangovers, struggling to deal with instant fame, constant attention and, sometimes, bad publicity.
In response, the makers of Big Brother – considered one of the toughest reality TV environments – are now considering long-term psychological follow-ups in tandem with existing on-set counselling.
On Nine's Survivor series, psychiatric care is provided months after the show finishes in addition to on-set support.
Two former Adelaide reality TV show contestants say they are still coming to terms with adjusting to everyday life.
Adelaide's Big Brother 3 housemate Dan McInnes, 29, said the drop back to earth after the excitement had led to down times.
"I was at the Australian Idol final, as a celebrity guest doing the red carpet walk, and a day later I was suddenly back at work and sitting playing a Playstation," he said.
"That can be really large depression. You're not ready for that."
While he is starting a film business and says he has been shortlisted for a part in a movie, Mr McInnes has returned to his $13-an-hour job at Marion shopping centre's arcade parlour, Intencity. "I've had times when parents have turned to a kid at the arcade saying, `He was on TV, look what happened to him'," Mr McInnes said.
"It still hurts when it hits you in the face but I don't judge myself by other people's standards."
Mr McInnes said he had no regrets about the show but was surprised by the lack of advice he was given after.
"All they said was `you got good press, everything is good, see you later'," he said.
Port Noarlunga's Pete Elvey, of Ten's The HotHouse, said he was struggling to fit back into reality and was disappointed by the lack of support from the show's producers.
"We spent a quarter of our year in there – seems like longer – and it feels like getting out of jail, and being rehabilitated to get back to real life," he said.
"They showed me the door and said thanks but no thanks."
Mr Elvey, a builder's laborer, said he had been unable to return to work as he and partner Tina Rameka came to terms with just missing out on the main prize – a $2 million Queensland home.
Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian also revealed last year he had battled depression during the show due to the constant pressure and attention.
Swinburne University senior lecturer in media and communications John Schwartz said reality shows could affect a contestant's self-esteem.
He said the TV networks had an obligation to nurture contestants. A number of potential traps he listed included the shock of selective editing, the impact of bad publicity, the fickleness of fame and unrealistic expectations of becoming famous. "Many don't understand they are just entertainment, fodder for the TV industry, a dime a dozen," he said.
"Ultimately it depends on the strength of their own family, group of friends, how well they cope after."
Big Brother, with its hidden cameras and stressful nomination and eviction process, has always had on-set psychiatric support.
The show's psychologist, Carmel Hill, said she was now recommending long-term follow-up for the current batch of housemates.
"I've always been here, people are still ringing me now, " she said. "Coming out of the house is hard; lots say the fame is difficult to adjust to.
"It can be hard to cope with some public criticism of them, and obviously having different experiences with loved ones.
"But people who have even had difficult experiences, even public ones, all say they don't regret it, it was positive."
Ms Hill conducts psych testing on all potential housemates and says most importantly, they must be able to cope with stress.
"We don't want people worse off in terms of coming out," she said. "We look at pre-exisiting vulnerabilities – depression risk, drug and alcohol intake."
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