Rebecca TaylorLove Island Series 13 begins on Monday 2 June 2026 on ITV2 and ITVX, with a new cast of contestants heading to a villa in Mallorca hoping to find connection in front of millions of viewers. This year's line-up includes teachers, a detective, DJs, and fitness professionals — a deliberately varied cast that ITV says responds to audience calls for more relatable participants. But behind the sunsets and coupling-up ceremonies, mental health professionals are once again asking whether the programme's duty of care measures are adequate for what contestants will face.
The concern is not new. In 2018, Love Island series two contestant Sophie Gradon died by suicide. In 2019, series three contestant Mike Thalassitis did the same. Former host Caroline Flack took her own life in 2020. These tragedies prompted ITV to fundamentally overhaul how it manages the psychological welfare of its participants — but each new series tests whether those reforms are holding.
What ITV's Duty of Care Framework Actually Covers
Since 2019, ITV has published its Love Island duty of care procedures publicly. For the 2026 series, the framework includes several significant provisions.
Before entering the villa, every contestant undergoes a psychological assessment commissioned by an independent doctor and psychological consultant. Reports are also requested from each participant's own GP, highlighting any relevant medical history. According to ITV's press materials, participants are deemed unsuitable if pre-existing mental health conditions indicate significant risk.
During the series, a registered mental health professional is engaged throughout — from pre-filming to aftercare. A welfare team is available to contestants at any point they wish to speak to someone, separate from production staff. Judges and psychologists advise ITV independently, including Dr Paul Litchfield and Dr Matthew Gould, both with extensive mental health backgrounds.
After leaving the villa, contestants receive eight weeks of funded therapy sessions. ITV commits to proactive contact for 14 months after the series ends, with additional support available beyond that point. Contestants also receive training on handling social media, financial management, and the transition back to ordinary life.
Why Psychologists Are Still Watching Closely
The duty of care improvements are substantive. But mental health professionals note that the structural pressures of the format itself have not changed. Contestants remain in a highly controlled environment, cut off from their normal support networks, with their relationships — and rejections — broadcast nightly to an audience of millions.
Research consistently shows that social comparison on broadcast and social media platforms is linked to increases in anxiety, low self-esteem, and disordered eating. The Love Island format amplifies every element that makes social media psychologically difficult: constant appearance scrutiny, public coupling decisions, and elimination events that carry the explicit message that a participant was not chosen.
For the 2026 series, concerns have also been raised about the aftercare gap — the period between leaving the villa and the first therapy appointment. Contestants exit to immediate public attention: social media notifications, press requests, and commentary that can be both euphoric and vicious within hours. Eight weeks of post-show support is an improvement on previous series, but critics argue that the highest-intensity period arrives before formal care begins.
What Former Participants Say About the Pressure
Former Love Island contestants who have spoken publicly about their experience describe the psychological aftermath as distinct from anything they anticipated. The combination of public attention, the end of an intense shared experience, and the abrupt return to ordinary life creates what some therapists call a "re-entry crisis" — a disorientation that is not captured by clinical assessments before filming began.
The show's producers have introduced a social media blackout for contestants while in the villa and trained their senior team in mental health first aid. These are meaningful steps. But clinical psychologists consistently note that awareness of psychological risk is not the same as the capacity to manage it in real time, particularly in a high-stimulus, sleep-deprived environment where social dynamics shift daily.
The Broader Mental Health Message for Viewers
Love Island is watched by millions of young people in the UK, including teenagers and young adults at particular risk for the social comparison effects the format can intensify. The NHS offers resources for people experiencing anxiety, social pressure, and self-esteem difficulties at nhs.uk/mental-health/.
For viewers who find reality TV formats affecting their own mood or self-perception, speaking with a health professional is a legitimate and worthwhile step. ExpertZoom connects patients with qualified health specialists — including mental health practitioners — who can offer structured support.
This year's Love Island contestants have signed up knowing more about the risks than any previous series. Whether the safety net around them is strong enough will become clearer over the coming weeks.
For related reading on how competition television affects mental health under sustained pressure, see our earlier feature on what the Sidemen's Netflix competition reveals about stress.
This article addresses mental health topics. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact your GP or call the Samaritans on 116 123.
