Why Love Island’s Chris is being praised by mental health charities
Chris, you're our favourite, keep being great
Love Island is almost over, and regardless of whether you watch it, that’s a very bad thing indeed. If you do like it, it is bad because you won’t be able to watch it anymore; and if you don’t like it, it’s bad because all your mates that do like it (which is all of them) will be sad zombies for the next couple of months. No matter what, it is going to be the opposite of good.
As we approach the end of civilization as we know it, talk turns to who’s going to win. It’ll probably be Gabby and Marcel, because he is The Nicest Man In The History Of Mankind, but I kind of hope Chris is in there somewhere, even though it’s not looking too promising with Olivia. Basically, Chris and Liv (I call her Liv now), have had quite the rollercoaster ride of things in the villa, particularly Chris, who seems to be in a right state a lot of the time.
And for this very reason, he’s being praised by mental health charities. Signpost, in particular, tweeted the following:
His willingness to show his emotions and not act the "big man" (at least not all the time, anyway) has garnered him a healthy helping of support from the public and those actively involved in mental health arenas. Olivia, on the other hand, has come under fire for having a bit of a go at old Chris for shedding a tear or two.
Namely, after breaking up with him for, I don’t know, the millionth time, she said:
“And don’t cry again, because that’s the whole reason we’re in this situation.”
Twitter has come out in full force to denounce her words. Let the man cry.
Chris letting it all hang out is a good thing, particularly on a TV show as popular as Love Island, as it puts across the positive message that, actually, my dudes, it’s OK to have a bit of a cry now and again (ask anyone sitting near me in the cinema when I saw Fast and Furious 7 – they’ll tell you I’m fully behind this). Many men feel as if they’re unable to reveal their emotions – and suicide is officially the single biggest killer of men aged between 20 and 49 years old.
Interestingly, Chris has spoken out about this before in an Instagram post, in which he admitted his problems with anxiety:
It's important that if you do find yourself in a bit of a rut, then just bloody well tell someone about it. Just because you're a bloke, it’s genuinely no reason not to seek help. Or at the very least, check out an organisation like Mind, and read up on their tips for beating struggles like anxiety. Head on over here for info.
Good on you Chris, you’re my favourite. But could I give you a bit of advice? Maybe don’t put too much investment into that rapping career of yours. That’s the main source of my tears this season.
(Image: Rex)
