"The Bachelor" is an American dating and relationship reality television show that has been making people fall in love since 2002. While everyone knows the show has been extremely successful in making good romance drama, it has created serious consequences for some of the contestant's mental health.
Psychotherapists are now questioning the fate of future participants and whether "The Bachelor" should take responsibly for the suicide of Gia Allemand, a New Orleans-based 29-year-old and former contestant. On August 14, 2013 Allemand was found unconscious with a vacuum cleaner cord wrapped around her neck. She was then transported to the hospital and pronounced brain-dead, where her mother made the decision to take her off life support. Micheletti told Dr. Phil later, "She said she was so tired of being hurt."
For those who might need a tiiiny recap on "The Bachelor," contestants are forced to take a multiple-choice psych test before filming the show. Producers and editors then utilize their fears against them. For instance, you think it's just a coincidence that the contestant who is MOST afraid of heights gets picked for the bungee jump date? Think again. While the season is being filmed, the contestants also undergo social isolation due to the restriction of cell phone use. To top it all off, the women or men are forced to see the person they are "falling in love" with kiss, make out or even be intimate with others. Besides for the luxurious places they might get to visit, it's pretty much a living hell.
The producers create an "artificial environment where they are forced to be deeply intimate," says Rachel Sussman, a New Year City-based psychotherapist and relationship expert. Unfortunately, this is not the first time a contestant from the franchise has taken their life. Julien Hug (season four) and Alexa "Lex" McAllister (season 14), committed suicide after competing on the reality television show. Now, over 400 contestants have come forward to claim the show caused them emotional distress. The show's director, Fuchs, thinks it's "all fair game," but psychotherapists around the country disagree.
With all that being said- I love the show. It's an entertaining 2-hour escape where I get to elbow-nudge cute date ideas to my boyfriend, and add to the talk on twitter every Monday. However, I believe "The Bachelor" should take more responsibly for the emotional toll their show can cause. Besides testing the women and men on their deepest fears, providing a mental health stability test could be beneficial- not to the show, but for the actual lives being affected.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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