TRAGIC: Love Island’s Mike Thalassitis had recently lost his nan
LOVE Island’s Mike Thalassitis took his own life at the weekend.
Matt Hancock has jumped all over this tragedy sensing a nice chance for some political point scoring.
“I am very worried about the support for the mental health of contestants on reality shows,” says a bloke who has probably never watched one in his life. “People need to take responsibility for their duties to people’s wellbeing very seriously.”
What? Just bloody what? You mean like the way the Government take responsibility for all our ex-Armed Forces personnel ex-servicemen and women taking their lives. It’s sickening how our politicians are quick to pontificate on profile-raising issues – A 26-year-old former footballer,
think Dawn Butler berating he became famous on Jamie Oliver for the “cultural the sex and sun show in 2017. appropriation” of jerk rice –
His nickname was “Muggy while doing so little to tackle the Mike” for the way he treated really big, messy stuff. girls. He was fit and funny. No-one even keeps a definitive
Neither of which matter though account of how many of the when huge emotional blows growing number of homeless on plunge you into anxiety and our streets are former veterans. depression. Mike had recently One recent study did reveal that lost his beloved nan and a close more than 60,000 Armed Forces friend as well as facing money vets in the UK have broken the and relationship worries. law, are homeless or are
So why has everyone suffering mental health started jumping up and problems. While some down and implying that 50,000 are coping with appearing on a reality TV mental health conditions, show is responsible for his 10,000 are in prison, on death and that “evil” producers parole or on probation should take more and 6,000 have no permanent care of their stars. Rot. address.
The shocking rise of So thank you Health Secretary suicide rates among young for taking the time men means there was to get so concerned about every chance tragic Mike WAFFLE: MPs Dawn Butler and Matt Hancock how telly shows like Love would have taken this dark Island, Towie and Made In path with or without a stint on who are left to fend for themselves Chelsea look after their stars. the telly. A stint he willingly after their service? Now if you could just spend chose to do. Sixteen hundred It’s a scandal that we spend so some time thinking about how Brits under the age of 35 die by little time, money and effort on we help those who have served their own hand each year – threequarters caring for our veterans meaning their country before being of them men. many end up self-medicating dumped on its streets.
Suicide remains the most common their Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Do not suffer in silence. We all cause of death for men aged with drink and drugs, often need help occasionally and there
20 to 49 in England and Wales. ending up on the streets. is always someone there to listen.
It goes without saying that all A report last year accused the Call the Samaritans free on 116
our sympathy and thoughts are Government of “turning a blind 123 or email jo@samaritans.org)
with Mike’s shocked friends and eye” to concern that suicides SSAFA offers practical and mental
family who are searching for among military veterans are health support to former forces
reasons in a sea of pain. spiralling. And incredibly no personnel. ssafa.org.uk/help-you/
But I can’t help but be furious comprehensive official records veterans/support-homelessveterans)
with the way Health Secretary are kept of the number of British