Warning: This article discusses attempted suicide and mental health issues.
Love Island star Jack Fincham has revealed he was left depressed by the fall out of his fame from being on the controversial reality show, and at one point tried to take his own life.
Questions have repeatedly been raised surrounding the show's lack of mental health care for its stars following three deaths by suicide in less than two years - former contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, and most recently, former host Caroline Flack.
Appearing on the Steven Sulley Study podcast, Fincham said there should be "more guidance" from the show's producers after contestant's leave Love Island and go back to the real world.
"They should say 'listen you are going to earn this amount of money - invest it, do something with it'," he said, adding that he felt he had "no structure" in his normal life, having quit his job in sales to join the cast.
"I've got really bad ADHD. I can't concentrate on anything. I was earning good money doing sales. I was happy. I had a structure," he explained.
Without his job, Fincham said he had "all this time and all this money" on his hands, and little idea what to do with it.
"I wouldn't say I f**ked it, but without that structure I fell to bits," he said, adding that he: "lost a lot of work through doing silly things."
"I'm not a bad person but sometimes good people do bad things," the 29-year-old said.
Despite having won the 2018 season of Love Island with his former girlfriend Dani Dyer, Fincham said he found himself in "panic mode" when the work and money began to dry up.
"All of a sudden the phone stopped ringing. Over the last six months I went into panic mode."
"I was depressed. This is only over the last year when the money was running out and work was drying out because of the bad headlines," he continued.
"Rock bottom for me was not earning the money I was earning and just feeling like, at points, I didn't want to be here. I've never said this before. I was ready to go. I didn't want to be here. It's upsetting to think [about]."
Since getting to his lowest point, Fincham has set up his own stationary company, and is focusing on his mental health and being a dad to his baby daughter, born at the start of last year.
"I've got to build up trust in myself," he said.
"That way I know I've got to get up Monday to Friday and I've got a structure in place."
Ahead of this year's Love Island season, producers revealed a new mental health duty of care process, and pledged to give "comprehensive psychological support" to contestants, as well as training in financial management and social media, and a "proactive aftercare package".
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
