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Social media app Instagram will hide the total number of 'likes' which posts in Ireland receive in a trial to analyse whether users prefer a less competitive social media environment.

Users themselves will be able to see how many 'likes' their own posts get, but not those of other Instagram users' posts.

A spokesman for the app said; “We are testing this because we want followers to focus on the photos and videos shared, not how many likes they get."

They added; “We don’t want Instagram to feel like a competition. We hope to learn whether this change can help people focus less on likes and more on telling their story.”

The company began testing this new feature in Canada in May, emphasising that the focus should be on the photos and videos themselves rather then the numerical results.

The trial is now being extended to Irish users, with the move likely being welcomes by parents and childrens' welfare organisations due to the negative effects on self-esteem associated with Instagram.

Instagram undoubtedly encourages people to portray an idealised version of their lives among their peers, seeking popularity of friends and acquaintances.

A new Canadian study of 3,826 teenagers discovered that social media may be associated with adolescent depression, as young people compare themselves with filtered, unrealistic images of others.

Instagram users will still be shown the number of comments that other users' posts attracts, which could be used as a proxy for popularity.

Instagram has been seen as the least controversial major social media platform, seeing as Facebook's meddling with elections and 'fake news' has gotten them in trouble, as well as YouTube and Twitter's issues with hate speech.

Tara Hopkins, head of public policy, EMEA at Instagram said; “We want Instagram to be a place where people feel comfortable expressing themselves."

She added; “This includes helping people to focus on the photos and videos they share, not how many likes they get.

"We are now rolling the test out to more countries so we learn more from our global community and see how this can benefit people's experiences on Instagram.”

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Chris Hemsworth has opened up about the mental health difficulties he faced after his career stalled following his appearance in Star Trek.

The actor is a massive Hollywood movie star currently, alongside fellow Chris's Pratt and Pine.

Hemsworth became a household name (along with his brother, Liam) after scoring the role of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the God of Thunder in nine blockbusters. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@movieeworld) on

The news that Taika Waititi will return as the director of Thor 4 guarantees Chris' return to the role, and it's also confirmed that he will feature in Guardians of the Galaxy 3. 

In summary, he's got no shortage of gig offers. He even competed against himself when Avengers: Endgame and Men In Black: International were released in cinemas at the same time.

However, there was a time before he gripped hold of the hammer when the Australian actor was struggling for work. He had a small role in JJ Abrams' Star Trek, which began as a trilogy.

Hemsworth played Captain Kirk's father in the opening sequence, but things slowed down after playing George Kirk in the reboot.

Image: Den of Geek

He explained; "I got a job pretty quick when I got to Hollywood, so I was very fortunate in that sense. Then I didn’t work for a while and I started to think it might not work out."

Breaking into the acting scene is notoriously difficult and once you have any tiny portion of success, it's even harder to sustain it.

Despite having a role in a huge franchise, he had a hard time working after Star Trek failed. Hemsworth later suffered from deep anxiety during this process, as he emphasised to Heat.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@chrishemsworth) on

"I had a huge amount of anxiety when I was auditioning, and that just got worse and worse the more I heard the word ‘no’," Chris said, of the disappointments.

"I did a lot of soul searching on a number of occasions, where I asked myself: ‘Why am I doing this? What’s my motivation to put myself through this?'"

If someone as great as Chris Hemsworth can have self-doubt, it can happen to anyone. He put spirited performances into his myriad MCU appearances, as well as his role in Bad Times at the El Royale.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@chrishemsworth) on

Kevin's Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is the actor's next project, with Chris recently explaining that he wants to take a break from acting in Hollywood to spend time with his family.

Time will tell what comes next for the God of Thunder, but Thor 4 and Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will keep our Chris pulses alive.

Feature image: Instagram/@geekhane

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Today, multi-platinum selling songwriter and mental health activist, Niall Breslin announced the launch of his own podcast series, Where is my Mind?. Available to listen to today across all streaming platforms, the six episode podcast series will guide listeners on how to navigate the manic, always-on and head-melting world they find themselves in today.

Where is my Mind? will follow Niall discussing what impact today’s society has on individuals, discussing a variety of coping techniques on how to deal with the overstimulated mindset people find themselves in by introducing the basics of mindfulness practice and meditation. Each podcast episode will enable listeners to learn the skills to help with breaking that autopilot mode, how to navigate constant distraction, how to be a more skilful stress-head and even how to get good at Jenga.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Niall breslin (@bressie) on

Speaking on the announcement, Founder of Where is my Mind?, Niall Breslin said ‘We all share a lot of the same issues and insecurities and to ask are there practical things we can all do to lessen the impact of the lightning-fast, high pressure world on our ability to be able to sleep soundly at night? For me the podcast platform is the most intimate way to explore this context in more detail and perhaps support people in the internal and external difficulties they will inevitably face in this life’.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Niall breslin (@bressie) on

Available to stream today, the first episode of Where is my Mind? discusses how individuals end up zoning out and living on autopilot in today’s hectic world, while looking at various techniques to overcome this habit ensuring to stay present in everyday life.

Other episodes within the podcast series will discuss various topics helping to create a healthier mind space when dealing with various issues such as distraction, chaos in today’s modern world, communication and perspective. Each episode is accompanied by a structured mindfulness programme and a guided meditation where Bressie leads the listener in the principles of mindfulness practice.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Niall breslin (@bressie) on

Working exclusively with Acast across the podcast series, Jennifer Dollard, Acast’s Content Manager for Ireland said 'Where Is My Mind? is such a beautifully-crafted podcast around mindfulness. It really taps into the power of podcasting – an intimate and engaging environment that helps you to switch off from the world around you. We’re proud to have such a progressive show as part of our network’.

The Where is my Mind? podcast series will be released weekly on Mondays and is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other channels.

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Ex-Islander Amy Hart has opened up about being forced to seek psychological help 12 times during her stint on Love Island following her break-up with Curtis Pritchard.

The air hostess walked out of the villa voluntarily last week and had to leave at least once to get help as she was in such an emotional distress.

She has now opened up about her heartbreak while on Love Island: Aftersun, revealing that she had to make use of the show's therapist on a dozen different occasions.

"I had therapy 12 times in the villa – but I've come out stronger," she told OK! magazine. "I deserve a man who loves me for who I am."

Amy had never had a boyfriend before meeting Curtis, and was destroyed following his decision to end things with her.

The shock move came after his head was turned by Jourdan Riane while Amy went to Casa Amor. Curtis also told her that he couldn't see a future with her on the outside, or marriage and kids.

The professional dancer decided to be brutally honest with the blonde bombshell, who sobbed in the Beach Hut and proclaimed that she couldn't stay and watch him crack on with other women.

Strictly Come Dancing professional and Curtis' brother AJ has claimed that Amy DM'ed him while speaking on talkRADIO.

"She spoke to me. She sent me a message actually afterwards and said she feels like she knows the family and she could only praise Curtis about being honest," he said.

AJ admitted that his brother was too ruthless while speaking to Amy about his feelings;

"Sometimes he was maybe a bit too brutally honest. He could have let her down a bit softer rather than saying, 'yes, I don't see myself marrying you and having kids with you'. "That was harsh, I'm not lying, it was harsh."

AJ and Curtis' mum Debi has also said that she'd like to meet the woman who had her heart broken by her son; "I would like to meet Amy. My heartache is there for Amy and for the parents," she said.

She continued; "When I watched the moment when Curtis told her how he felt, I couldn't stop crying because of all the emotion. I wanted to reach out and give Amy a hug.

"I was thinking of Amy’s mum a lot and I'm so happy Amy is with her family unit now because I know she will be fine and her and Curtis will be friends," she added,

Amy has a new look and seems better than ever, thank the Lord. She's 100 percent stronger after the experience, and we're proud that she speaks so openly about mental health.

Feature image: Twitter/@amyhart1707

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Multiple sources have reported that several Love Island couples have had sex on the show in secret, but the scenes aren't being aired on TV.

Show bosses are allegedly choosing not to show this years' scenes due to fears of "ruining their lives". The show is infamous for the under-the-covers sex scenes and Islanders avoiding the camera.

Only two trips to the Hideaway have been made this year, with Curtis and Amy as well as Molly-Mae and Tommy appearing to keep things PG.

ITV/REX

It's been revealed by an insider that many couples are "doing bits" and more, but producers have opted to conceal the footage to protect the mental health of the contestants.

"It hasn’t been shown on TV – bosses are worried about upsetting them and fear ruining their lives,’ the source added.

The Islanders have all told show producers that they were "not comfortable with their sex scenes being broadcast" and so "bosses have taken it all into account".

Last year, Love Island bosses would just show sex scenes if the participants chose to speak about their bedroom antics afterwards. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@amy.and.curtis.as.friends) on

The change comes after former 2017 Islander Zara Holland had sex on TV and had her Miss Great Britain title stripped as a result. 

She told the Daily Star: "If I had my time on the show again I would definitely do things differently. I wouldn’t have sex for a start.

"It’s so hypocritical that everyone around me was at it like rabbits but I was the one who lost everything. And I only had sex once, in a private room, under the covers. I regret it," she continued.

“So my advice to this year’s islanders is think before you do it. It could haunt you for the rest of your career."

Image: ITV/tv.bt.com

Amy Hart admitted to "doing bits" with Curtis Pritchard before she left for Casa Amor and he brutally dumped her and morphed into the Toxic Player of the Island (plot twist).

But according to his 26-year-old former 'half-girlfriend', no one wants to have sex on TV because it's been transformed into a family show;

"No one wants to have sex as it’s a family show now,’ she claimed to The Sun. ‘It used to be more niche but my 73-year-old nan and granddad are obsessed with it." Fair enough…

Feature image: Instagram

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A new report ‘Taking Dogs into the Office' sponsored by Purina Human-Animal Bond Studies sponsorship program and conducted by researchers at the University of Lincoln (UK) shows that employees who often take their dog to work report 22 percent higher satisfaction with working conditions. This new research is the first to quantify the benefits and the impact of dogs in the office on work-related and dog-related outcomes.

It measures parameters such as employees’ engagement and wellbeing or their control over decisions at work, and analyses how the bond between dogs and their owners can be reinforced by being together as well in the office.

 A common myth until now has been that taking dogs into the office could be distracting. This new research shows that employees who take their dog to work report increased absorption in their work by a significant 33.4 percent and in their dedication to work by 16.5 percent – compared to the norm, with an overall increase in work engagement of 14.4 percent.  In fact, researchers suggest that the presence of a friendly dog may increase motivation and attention to set tasks 

Nestlé UK & Ireland, Purina’s sister company, has been welcoming dogs into many of its offices since 2015, with its main offices in Dublin, Gatwick, and York now has over 100 four legged colleagues on the payroll. The company is committed to promoting dog-friendly workplaces to help more people and pets enjoy the benefits of spending more time together. To support more organisations to become dog-friendly, Purina has developed the Pets at Work Alliance, a framework for other companies to follow and enable their employees to bring their pets to work. 

‘Taking Dogs into the Office’ research demonstrates that bringing pets to work increases employees’ performance and productivity and reduces employees’ intention to leave their job. These outcomes highlight potential benefits for companies that allow employees to bring their pets to work. Their employees may be more engaged and productive, and the company might be able to reduce their recruitment costs by avoiding the potential loss of their own talent. 

The findings also show that employees who often take their dog to work report 14.9 percent higher satisfaction with their home-work interface (i.e. in accommodating family and work commitments). In addition, they report 16.9 percent higher scores in their overall work quality of life compared to the norm and 16.6 percent higher control at work, which includes their perceived control over decisions being made at work.

Overall, employees scored 13.1 percent higher for their job-career satisfaction and 4.7 percent higher for their general well-being, with greater levels of happiness and life satisfaction. 

From the dog’s perspective, being able to go to the office with their owner may also be beneficial. Many dogs are left alone for long periods of time, and separation related problems are recognised as one of the most important threats to domestic dog welfare. Therefore, spending more time together also helps strengthen the bond between pets and pet-owners. 

Professor Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine, Director of The Animal Behaviour Clinic at the University of Lincoln, and one of the authors of the research along with Dr. Sophie Hall says: “If you told employers there was a simple way to increase their workforce overall satisfaction with the working conditions, they’d be very keen to learn more.

"Our results show that far from being a distraction, (a fear expressed by some in our earlier work) allowing dogs in the workplace has the potential to improve employees’ focus and probably productivity too. Forward-thinking companies should consider very seriously if they can accommodate dogs in the workplace and the Purina Pets at Work programme can enable them to do this efficiently.” 

“Currently, 22 countries have established Pets at Work programmes in Purina and Nestlé offices”, states Bernard Meunier, CEO at Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

“At Purina, we have also supported 80 partners across Europe to implement our framework, become dog-friendly and join our Pets at Work Alliance. Our objective, as part of our commitment to promote pets in the workplace, is to support pets at work initiatives and help 200 companies join our Pets at Work Alliance by 2020”, Meunier confirms. Companies including UniCredit in Italy, wework in France, AFB International in Netherlands and McCann in the UK are already members of this global Alliance.

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A new study has found that young women in Ireland have the highest levels of depression in all of Europe.

The study, which was conducted by Eurofound, revealed that 17 percent of women aged between 15 and 24-years-old are suffering from moderate to severe depression.

The current EU average is 9 percent.

Key factors leading to these concerning numbers include homelessness, eating disorders, cyberbullying and Ireland’s economic crisis.

The study states: “Young women are more likely to find themselves not in employment, education or training, and are significantly more likely to suffer depressive symptoms than young men."

The study also found that young women are more likely to internalise traumatic events and personal issues which is a major cause of depression. This can also lead to eating disorders and self-harm.

It is important to remember that there is help out there if you’re struggling with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or anorexia. There is never any shame in admitting that something is wrong. Seeking help from a doctor, counsellor or other medical professional is terrifying but internalising your problems will only make you feel worse.

See below for a list of mental health helplines in Ireland:

Samaritans

www.samaritans.ie

116 123 

Aware (Depression & Bi-Polar Disorder)

www.aware.ie

1800 80 48 48

supportmail@aware.ie 

Pieta House 

www.pieta.ie

1800 247 247 (National Suicide Helpline)

01 623 5606

Grow (Mental Health Support and Recovery)

www.grow.ie

1890 474 474

Bodywhys

www.bodywhys.ie

1890 200 444

 

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Vicky Pattinson has cautioned fans of reality television shows such as Love Island against writing hateful comments online about individual contestants, emphasising that their words have direct consequences.

The TV star referenced the two suicides of Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon following struggles with mental health, emphasising the fact that these television personalities are human.

The star has faced online vitriol as a result of her roles on Geordie Shore, Ex On The Beach and I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, so she has a level of empathy for those who essentially become famous overnight.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Vicky Pattison (@vickypattison) on

Posting an image of the two former Love Island contestants to her Instagram, Vicky wrote;

"What do you see here?! Let me tell you what I see; two beautiful, charismatic, fun loving and young people who should have had the world at their feet and their whole lives ahead of them. Instead, they left this world all too soon not knowing just how loved they were."

"Now I haven’t managed to catch any of this year’s Love Island. I’ve barely been in the country since it started. But I still read the news, follow the fan accounts, and my group chats still go off every time it’s on… what I’m saying is it is impossible to avoid the reality TV juggernaut." Vicky continued.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Vicky Pattison (@vickypattison) on

She added;

"I just want to say I think the show is great- and I’m friends with so many of the ex-Islanders who I love a lot. But today I made the mistake of reading some people’s comments on social media when I couldn’t sleep and I’m not going to lie I was both shocked and saddened by what I read."

Love Island bosses have stepped up mental health services for the contestants, and even cite 'mental health pressures' in the contract.

Vicky warns those who use social media to use caution, and remember that the contestants do read the hateful things written about themselves online;

"Regardless of who your favourite is on this show, who you ‘ship’, who you want to win, if you’re mad that someone’s left, or angry someone stayed, no matter what you actually may think or be saying in your group chat with your mates I urge you to be more mindful across social media."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Vicky Pattison (@vickypattison) on

The show has come under immense scrutiny after two Islanders took their own lives when their time on the show ended, and the emphasis on body image or physical appearance can cause mental health stress.

"Have we not witnessed the detrimental and irreversible affect our thoughtless words and reckless opinions can have on someone’s mental health?! Why are people still attacking these islanders with such verbal vitriol?!" Vicky said.

"Do you know them personally?! Of course not! Have they done anything to warrant it?! No way. Are they human?! YES! These people are no different to you and me and they have feelings and these hateful comments with have ramifications we can’t even begin to understand."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Mike Thalassitis (@mike_thala) on

Mike Thalassitis, who appeared on Love Island 2017, was found dead in a woodland park near his London home in March. Questions arose about the show's aftercare following the 26-year-old's death.

32-year-old Sophie Gradon died in June of 2018 after struggling with depression. The former Miss Great Britain took part in the show in 2016. She was found dead by her boyfriend, who took his own life 20 days later.

She explained to a friend that she 'wanted to escape' and had 'sold her soul' to appear on the infamous ITV2 show.

Despite these deaths and warnings to be careful of what you write about reality stars online, Vicky pointed out that the hateful vitriol has continued.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sophie Gradon (@sophiegradon) on

"It’s so ludicrous to me that after everything that’s happened this past year I’m still having to urge people to be kind but here we are. We have lost too many people and I know this isn’t confined to the world of reality TV." 

She added;

"Through the callous words of individuals, online hate and cyber bullying we are breaking people, destroying them and it has to stop. Think before you type. Your words have gravity.

"Please be better than this internet culture of hate. Do not allow it to breed. Be kind, be compassionate. Be human. Let’s put the ‘love’ back in Love Island for Sophie & Mike."

Feature image: Instagram/@vickypattinson

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While us mere mortals struggle to scrimp together our pennies for our holidays,  it seems that others don't think like the rest of us.

A husband and wife who run an Instagram account together ruffled a few feathers by announced that they want their followers to fork out and fund their trip. 

The couple, Catalin Onc and Elena Engelhardt have set up a GoFundMe (yes, really) to raise enough cash for a cycle from Germany to Africa.

Their reason?

It's to help others with their mental health issues.

Confused?

You're not the only one.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by CAT AND ELENA (@another_beautiful_day_official) on

The couple is looking for 10 grand to cover bikes, accommodation, food, sim cards, insurance, and emergencies.

Catalin lives with his mum, who works two jobs to support him – and people are  p*ssed off with them asking other working people to pay for them to travel.

Their response to getting a job?

They said, ''Some will just tell us to get jobs, like everyone else and stop begging. But when you have the impact we do on others’ life, getting a job is not an option. We could model and make fast money, but we don’t want to advertise consumerism. A normal job at this point would be detrimental.'' 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by CAT AND ELENA (@another_beautiful_day_official) on

People have come out in force to slam the pair.

One said, ''Your mum works two jobs to pay for your trip, don’t you think that’s impacting her mental health? It’s sad this isn’t all a joke, the self-importance you have is ridiculous.''

While another wrote, ''You guys are doing literally f*ck all for anyone’s mental health other than feeding your own narcissim.''

What do you guys think – are they delusional or helping people?

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We all know that Love Island is a reality TV show.

What we see isn't real – it's carefully scripted for our entertainment.

The ''cast'' are moulded into characters, told who to go for and the awkward ''chats'' are set up to happen between whoever the producers know the public want to see together.

While the people who sign up for this show are aware of the repercussions, it seems that brand deals, PA's and that blue tick are worth more – and it's a dangerous game.

And now Savanna Darnell, a short-lived castmate from 2018's series, has come forward with the whole truth about what she went through to get on the show and how everything crumbled when she was booted off after five days. 

Related image

The Sheffield native was 22-year-old when she applied for the ITV show and was actually flown out to Majorca at the same time as the main line up – Dr. Alex, Dani Dyer etc. 

However, as she explained in her YouTube video, ''We couldn’t cross paths so I had to stick with my chaperone. I’m not allowed to say a lot but I will never forget the experience.''

She continued, ''No phone, no access to the outside world, no TV, some days you can’t even leave the hotel in case you cross paths with the other islanders. I was going crazy every day because I didn’t know when I was going in. Ten days go by I’m still not in, Love Island has started, they’re in the villa and I’m still in this hotel driving myself insane.''

That sounds soo shit, doesn't it?

But it gets worse.

After being told she was going to be one of the first girls on the series, she was SENT BACK TO THe UK after 10 days in a hotel room.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Savanna Darnell  (@_savannadarnell) on

Savanna revealed, ''I remember them saying “keep your bags packed, we’re going to call you very soon, you’ll be back before you know it”, so I couldn’t take any jobs in case they call me and say you’re going on. I spent three weeks at home, doing absolutely nothing. I didn’t want to leave my bed and my mum was really worried about me.''

Summer of hell, it sounds like to us.

The producers kept rebuffing her and for three weeks she just got more and more stressed.

She said, ''I was putting on weight because I was binge-eating – I had just had two weeks of no carbs [before flying to Mallorca the first time] and thinking back to this time I’m thinking “omg what did I put myself through?”’

She was eventually sent in as part of the Casa Amor bombshells but had to leave after five days when she didn't couple up with anyone. 

She says her time with Wes (they slept in the same bed) was cut from the show. 

And then, it was the backlash for the media that she had to deal with.

Trolls criticised her appearance and she spiralled into depression. 

She said, ''I was crying every single day, I didn’t know how to cope with life. I remember reading some horrible comments about how I was the ugliest Islander ever, that I should get breast cancer and die. That was a horrible time.''

While she is now touring Europe as part of the Thriller Live musical, the scars from her ordeal have yet to fade.

And it makes you think – how many other girls are in the position she was right now, waiting in the wings?

And is it worth it – should we support a show that treats mental health with such flippancy? 

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Opening up about your mental health struggles is a major step for anyone, famous or not. Telling your mum that you have depression or confiding in a friend about your battle with bipolar disorder takes a lot of strength. It is a massive step that shouldn’t be tainted by stigma or judgement.

Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington recently disclosed, via his representative, that he was spending some time at a wellness retreat to help cope with his personal issues.

When news broke that the actor, who plays courageous and noble Jon Snow, was seeking help for his mental health struggles tabloids were quick to shame him.

Image result for Kit Harington smile

The headlines made it seem like getting help for your mental health issues is shameful, dirty and something we shouldn’t do.

Surely we should be championing the fact that one of TV’s biggest stars is getting help for issues that darkened his life.

As author Matt Haig said, “Rehab is such a negative word. Thanks to pop culture. Thanks to the media. Going to rehab is a positive thing. It is the moment someone recognises their problem and plans to recover from it. It's a brave, wonderful, healing thing, and no-one should be stigmatised for it.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Matt Haig (@mattzhaig) on

Kit should be commended and respected for his decision to go on this wellness retreat because anyone who has gone through similar issues knows all too well that reaching out and saying ‘I need help’ is one of the biggest hurdles you have to overcome on this journey.

His name shouldn’t be splashed across headlines with the word 'rehab' in capital letters just to dramatise the story. Stories about previous low moments in his life shouldn’t resurface at a time when he is clearly struggling mentally.

He should be allowed recover in peace because regardless of his fame, his roles and his status, he is just a human. A human who was struggling and needed help.

Men are so often told to be strong and to man up, it's no wonder they are the ones who find it harder to cope with mental health problems. Men account for eight out of ten suicides here in Ireland.

They are suffering in silence, denying themselves the right to be treated and fight this heavy battle alone because of stigma, fear and a pathetic lack of support by both the Government, the media and the public.

We have made great strides in recent years, especially with the help of the See Change campaign. Wearing the green ribbon on your jacket may help people feel less alone, but it can only do so much.

Leo Varadkar and co. can wear a green ribbon upon their expensive suit jackets but what they really need to do is invest in mental health support. Show the public, show Ireland’s men that there is help out there, suicide isn’t your only option and that things can get better with the right help.

We shouldn’t look upon Kit Harington with pity, but with pride. He found the strength to seek help and proved to men that they don't need to 'man up' because there is no shame in your suffering.

If you or anyone you know are struggling with mental health issues, please call Samaritans on 116 123.

You can donate to Pieta House here. 

Support the See Change campaign here.

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ITV bosses are about to get some SERIOUS hate mail after the latest comments on body diversity. Brace yourselves for this one, people, it's an absolute corker.

Richard Cowles, creative director of ITV Studios Entertainment, are claiming that the reason Love Island is lacking body diversity is because they want the contestants "to be attracted to one another". 

The reality show has been garnering huge criticism in previous years over failing to cast contestants with a range of body types.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Love Island (@loveisland) on

The 2019 islanders for season five were unveiled last Monday, and fans of the show quickly took to Twitter to vent their frustrations.

The contestants are typically toned, slim and bronzed with gleaming white teeth; zero change from the last four seasons. Former stars of the show also expressed concerns at the lack of physical representation.

Cowles suggested the reason Love Island usually shows only one physique is because other body types might be deemed LESS attractive by other contestants, which is something only a massive d*ckhead would say.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Love Island (@loveisland) on

“I think we try to be as representative and diverse as possible,” Cowles sais​​​​​​d “It has to come back first and foremost- it's an entertainment show and it's about people wanting to watch people we've got on screen and then reacting and falling in love with one another.

“Yes we want to be as representative as possible but we also we want them to be attracted to one another.” *Sharpens knife*

The  Love Island boss continued to dig a bigger hole by saying the show isn’t encouraging people to aspire to a certain body image, it just chooses participants based on who they think the public want to watch for eight weeks.

So basically, only this one narrow body type can appear on television, because the public refuse to watch any other varieties of physiques. Wow. 

“We're saying here's a group of people that we want to watch for eight weeks, and we want to watch them fall in love,” Cowles added. “That's not at the front of our mind, but we do want to be as diverse as possible.”

Former islanders Alexandra Cane and Malin Andersson both spoke out about their disappointment over the 2019 line-up.  

Cane tweeted: “Where the curvy girls at?” while Love Island 2016 star Andersson, wrote: “And I thought they would have some diversity. Meh.”

A spokesperson from ITV2 later said:

“When casting for Love Island, we always strive to reflect the age, experiences and diversity of our audience and this year is no exception with a cross section of different personalities and backgrounds in the villa." Maybe strive a tad harder, eh?

The reality show has also received complaints about the lack of care for the mental health of contestants, following the suicides of Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.

While the series came under scrutiny for reasons of mental health and compassion on social media, it seems the public are still commenting on the bodies of those involved in the new season 

The show has since introduced aftercare processes in a string of changes.

Some fans are even calling for the show to be removed from the air entirely, especially after The Jeremy Kyle Show drama.

One thing is for sure, they need to do better. Full stop.

blackish do it GIF by ABC Network

Feature image: Instagram/@loveisland

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