X Factor star Lucy Spraggan is looking for an “industry shift” over the therapy of contestants on actuality TV, labelling the ensuing fame from showing on such programmes “a huge trauma”.
The singer – who’s now 31 – was simply 20 years outdated when she appeared on the Simon Cowell expertise present, and was a favorite to win, however left the competitors after only a few weeks following a sexually assault.
While she withdrew from the present following the assault (for which a person – not related with the present – was convicted and imprisoned), she has remained musically energetic, releasing music each two years, and now sharing her seventh album.
Making the choice to waive her anonymity (which is granted to all victims of sexual assault), Spraggan has gone on to name herself a “lucky victim,” including: “I say I’m a lucky victim for many reasons, and one of which is to have a conviction. It’s not something that many people are afforded.”
Spraggan tells Sky News: “I am a completely different person… I’ve done a lot of healing the last 11 years”.
However, her early experiences on actuality TV has impressed her to push for change. She says: “I think there needs be an industry shift in the way that we treat the mental health of participants on shows, on reality TV. Becoming famous, especially overnight, is a huge trauma. It’s really quite something.”
She says: “When I looked for the mental health help that I needed, I didn’t know where to look,” including: “I want use my negative experience to build a better place for other people”.
She says she was impressed by the loss of life of Love Island presenter Caroline Flack, who took her personal life in 2020, to jot down her memoir, Process, and there may be additionally a music concerning the late star on her most up-to-date album.
A good friend of Flack’s, Spraggan says: “I remember hearing that she had died and just being so overwhelmed. I wondered what protocols and what procedures were in place to help somebody who quite clearly needed help at that time.”
Spraggan on the X Factor in 2012
Spraggan additionally says that whereas she’s been lucky sufficient to have a profitable music profession after showing on the present, others have been much less fortunate, and needed to return to their former jobs, which she says is “not good for a person’s well-being,” including: “I think after being exposed to fame like that, you need a little bit of help with your self-worth and work on validation”.
The singer is looking for a psychological well being pension scheme to be put in place for these engaged on actuality TV – each on and off the display screen – the place manufacturing firms take a proportion of their funds which is then obtainable for workers to entry for psychological well being sources.
When approached by Sky News, ITV mentioned in a press release: “We’ve evolved and improved these oversight procedures since the events in question and we are encouraged to hear that Thames [the production company behind X Factor] recognises the importance of continuous review and improvement of their own processes.
“We proceed to evolve our personal responsibility of care processes on programmes we produce to make sure that there are acceptable measures in place to assist contributors earlier than, throughout and after filming.”
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Spraggan says she has opened up about her traumatic experiences in each her memoir and album in a bid to assist others.
“I want people to see my story and say terrible things can happen, but we can get better, and we will feel better. And that’s what this whole thing is about. It’s a very positive message”.
Spraggan’s memoir, Process: Finding My Way Through, is accessible now, and her newest album, Balance, is launched immediately.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can name Samaritans for assistance on 116 123 or electronic mail jo@samaritans.org within the UK. In the US, name the Samaritans department in your space or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Content Source: information.sky.com