Amy Hart: 'Love Island have paid for therapy for as long as I need it'
World Mental Health Day is on 10th October
Following her public heartbreak after splitting with Curtis Pritchard in the Love Island villa, many people questioned what ITV were doing to look after Amy Hart’s mental health.
But while she admits she left the show as a way of protecting herself from spiralling into a depression, in a candid chat with heat for part of our mental health campaign Where's Your Head At?, Amy also tells us just how much support and aftercare she’s had from the show who have promised all contestants a minimum of 18 months therapy (plus more if they need it).
And in the wake of the heart-wrenching Jesy Nelson documentary ‘Odd One Out’, she admits she’s been in tears from trolls herself and shares important tips on how to cope when you’re feeling anxious...
Watch Amy Hart open up about her mental health struggles:
What’s your experience with mental health issues?
I have had mental health issues in the past but I was reluctant to accept it. I didn’t admit that I had anxiety until a couple of years after I first started my job flying at British Airways.
What were your symptoms?
My previous anxiety issues manifested within food. I would order the biggest dinner you’ve ever seen and take one bite and start shaking, crying and saying I can’t eat this anymore. I felt like wasn’t in control of the rest of my life - I was convinced I was going to get sacked, so food was my control thing.
Did you lose a lot of weight?
I lost a stone in my first six months in BA and when Curtis finished with me I wasn’t hungry and wanted to control my diet again but ITV stepped in and made me eat as the psyche was watching me all the time.
How did being on love island affect your mental health?
It started way before being in the villa - I applied for love island in October so I had this goal of Love Island, everything in my life was centred around love island, the Instagram wanted the ultimate picture, borderline obsession I would say with getting on love island, because I thought it would solve all of my problems.
What was your lowest point in the villa?
After the breakup, there was a day where the day beds were full and the swings were full, and Curtis and Molly-Mae were sat by the pool and I didn’t know where to put myself. It was the loneliest I’ve ever felt in my life. There were 17 other people in the villa and I was so lonely and I just went upstairs and said I want to go home.
Did you feel like you were being looked after?
Definitely. The welfare girl came in every single lunchtime apart from one day a week to check how much water we were having, how much we’d eaten and how we were. And when it all went tits up for me and I was lying in bed crying at lunchtime, she would get into bed with me and just stroke my head and talk to me and now I speak to her on the phone twice a week to check how I am. I would see the psyche twice a day and we would go to a cabin just outside the villa, mics off, where I could say whatever I wanted, everything was confidential, and was a really nice away space.
What’s the aftercare like now?
ITV’s aftercare is very, very thorough, I still speak to my welfare rep all the time and she’s a friend now.
How often do you see a therapist?
We’ve been given 18 months of sessions as mandatory from ITV and then we can have more if we want them afterwards. I’m very unorganised and busy at the moment so I let my psyche sessions go and my welfare rep ended up phoning my manager and saying ‘we need to get a date in Amy’s diary when she’s free’ so they are really on it.
How do you cope with trolls?
It’s like someone pushing down on you all the time. I just try and block a lot of words on my comments so I don’t see them – words like fat and ugly. I was going to block ‘teeth’ as well as I got a lot of stick about my teeth.
How does trolling affect you?
There’s one particular follower and every single Instagram story that I’ve put on since leaving the villa she has replied to. Some of them are just like ‘sort your teeth out’ and some of them are ‘seriously Amy, you’ve got money now just sort your teeth out they look awful and you’re really ruining yourself - you could be such a big celebrity but your teeth are just awful’. I had my veneers done when I was 17 and I was fine with them before I went onto Love Island but now I’m thinking ‘well if I have my teeth done that’s one less thing they can troll me about’ but they will just find something else!
To get help on mental health issues and find out how you can support our campaign so that mental and physical health are given equal treatment in the workplace please go to www.wheresyourheadat.org.
Scroll through to see which Love Island stars have dated cast members from other series...
Luke Mabbott and Lucie Donlan
In July 2020, Winter Love Island star Luke Mabbott and Love Island 2019 star Lucie Donlan announced they were dating! The pair grew close during lockdown and in July then enjoyed a lovely little UK getaway together!
Luke M's Love Island BFF Luke T told the Mail Online, "I was asking him about it for weeks but he just told me last weekend. He's been cool, I think they're well suited and I'm happy for them. Hopefully they last."
Well, the pair certainly have lasted! They continue to flood social media on the daily with cute snaps together, looking VERY loved-up.
Wes Nelson and Arabella Chi
Despite leaving the Love Island 2018 villa with Megan Barton-Hanson, the pair split in March 2019, with 2019 Islander Arabella Chi catching Wes' eye on the show.
When Arabella left the villa, the pair enjoyed a number of dates before going official in August 2019.
Although the pair moved in together, just nine months after they went official, reports suggested that Wes and Arabella had split in April 2020.
Kaz Crossley and Theo Campbell
Following Love Island 2018 star Kaz Crossley's split from fellow Islander Josh Denzel, Kaz started dating 2017 star Theo Campbell.
The couple made things official and later attended events together, enjoyed a number of holidays and looking very loved-up.
Kaz Crossley and Theo Campbell
In August 2019, Kaz proved her love for her man by flying out to Ibiza after Theo lost the sight in his right eye following an accident involving a champagne cork.
Admitting how 'proud' she was of his bravery following the accident, Kaz wrote, 'It's been a hard 24 hours no one here speaks English and he was taken for hours at one point and I had no clue he was in surgery again. I've stayed in his room over night and just want to take him home. He's so brave and positive hopefully it will get better thanks for your kind messages.'
However, in February 2021, Theo confirmed the pair have now split, admitting he got 'slinged'.
Michael Griffiths and Ellie Brown
Love Island 2019 star Michael Griffiths seemed to confirm he was dating 2018 Ellie Brown after the pair both appeared on Celebrity Ex On The Beach. The former fireman even called Ellie 'the one'.
However, just hours later, Ellie denied the reports, admitting they only posted the photo to promote the show.
Joanna Chimonides and Jack Fowler
After Joanna Chimonides was brutally dumped from the Love Island villa in 2019, fans of the show were left in shock when she was met at the airport by Love Island 2018 hunk Jack Fowler.
Joanna Chimonides and Jack Fowler
Joanna was quick to clear up the rumours, revealing she's been pals with Jack for a number of years.
Maybe a potential couple in the future then? 🙈
Max Morley and Laura Anderson
Although Max Morley won Love Island 2015 alongside Jessica Hayes, the pair split shortly after leaving the villa and Max more or less removed himself from the spotlight.
That was until he started dating Love Island 2018 star Laura Anderson, with the pair posting cute snaps together on Instagram.
Max Morley and Laura Anderson
Things all ended in sadness though! Just a few months after enjoying a holiday in Barbados, Laura and Max split amidst cheating fears, with Laura blocking her former beau on Instagram.
Laura went on to date Dane Bowers and Gary Lucy, and now she's a proud mum!
Kendall Rae-Knight and Kem Cetinay
Love Island 2017 winner Kem Cetinay and 2018 Islander Kendall Rae-Knight were spotted on a 'date' in 2021, with the pair even sharing a kiss!
However, speaking to heat on Love Island: Under the Duvet, Kendall revealed the pair were just friends, saying, "Aaaah, yeah, we're just friends."
Antigoni Buxton and Jack Fowler
Antigoni Buxton is in the Love Island 2022 villa now, but before entering she dated 2018 Islander Jack Fowler for a number of months.
World Mental Health Day is on 10th October.
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