Production company behind Married At First Sight and Big Brother is set to hire ‘wellness managers’

Endemol Shine Australia has advertised for ‘wellness managers’ to work across their reality TV shows.

The production company is behind some of the biggest shows in the country, including Married At First Sight, Survivor and MasterChef.

The wellness managers will look after the reality TV stars and their mental health.

Former MAFS star Hayley Vernon, 33, revealed to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that she thought the role would be ‘helpful’ as she felt she was given ‘almost no support by production staff at all’.

‘Something like this … like someone offering mental support would have been helpful but it’s a bit late for me,’ she told the publication.

But Hayley, who gave up a lucrative role in finance and now works as a construction labourer, added the gruelling filming schedules was ‘almost like torture’. 

Hayley added the MAFS cast would be supported behind the scenes by a psychiatrist, but claimed they ‘singed a contract’ before sitting down with anyone. 

‘We had to sign a contract… which said that we gave permission for the psychiatrist to share any information we told her with producers if they felt it was relevant,’ Hayley claimed. 

‘So it became pretty clear that anything we said was being fed straight to the people behind the scenes.’

The Wellness Manager role has been advertised by the company on its website and social media sites. 

The company is calling on individuals with ‘experience or sound knowledge of the television industry and a strong interest or background in the mental health sector.’

The ad advises the successful applicant will ‘provide care and support for participants in conjunction with ESA’s broader wellbeing team.’

Hayley isn’t the only former MAFS star who has admitted to struggling following her appearance on the controversial Channel Nine experiment.

Back in April, Natasha Spencer told Daily Mail Australia that she had a mental breakdown and was rushed to hospital after she was viciously trolled online ahead of the show’s finale.

Natasha had suffered several panic attacks as a result of her high-functioning anxiety.

The financial analyst was taken to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital in an ambulance under a section 22 medical hold.

A hold or involuntary hospitalisation often occurs when patients need urgent medical care, or so that doctors can determine their mental state. 

‘They had me psychologically evaluated and I was there for two or three hours. I have high-functioning anxiety I deal with every day… I had been having panic attacks and this was too much,’ Natasha said. 

‘They thought I was a danger to myself,’ Natasha said. 

At the time, Channel Nine told Daily Mail Australia that they take the health and well-being of MAFS stars ‘extremely seriously.’ 

‘Nine and Endemol Shine takes its obligations in respect to the health and well-being of the participants of this program extremely seriously. All participants have access to the show psychologist during filming, during broadcast and once the program has ended,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Nine also have an additional service for participants should they like or need further individual and confidential psychological support.

‘This service gives participants access to psychologists who have been specifically engaged to support those involved in the program in relation to their experiences.’

‘This service is available to all participants for as long as they need it, it does not end.’ 

In March, Ines Basic, 30, revealed she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), claiming her anxiety was ‘110 per cent caused from Married At First Sight.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Endemol Shine Australia and Channel Nine for comment in relation to this story. 

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue.