Jeff Probst On How ‘Survivor’ Deals With Mental Health Issues
On this week’s episode of Survivor, Ben Katzman woke up in the middle of the night and suffered from a panic attack. Ben said that he suffers from anxiety, and this was a tough moment for him. It also affected the viewers at home as he recounted how he felt.
Jeff Probst explained how the reality competition show deals with these mental health issues.
Survivor Has A Plan To Help Contestants With Mental Health Concerns
Jeff Probst appeared on the Wednesday episode of the On Fire podcast. He took the time to discuss the issues with Ben and explained what Survivor does to help contestants in these situations. According to Jeff, the show has psychologists on staff and ready to step in to help anyone who needs assistance during the competition.
“In this case, we let our psychologists know what happened,” Jeff said “If there was even a slight concern that Ben was in real trouble, we would intervene in whatever way was most appropriate.” For fans who seem confused about offering this help to people in a survival competition, Jeff said that the show always puts the players’ needs first.
Jeff said the game is supposed to get people to tap into their “physical and emotional reserve.” However, he said the number one priority for the producers on the show is to protect the contestants – both physically and with their mental health. Not only are there psychologists on staff to step in, but there are also medical doctors on hand to treat anyone injured during the competition.
Jeff said he is proud of the mental health team on Survivor. He said they always work hard during the competition and with the aftercare program. “I don’t know of any show in our genre who does what we do,” he explained. “We follow through, and that support continues for as long as a player needs it.”
Ben’s Issue Spotlighted Mental Health Concerns On Survivor
The moment happened on this past Wednesday’s Survivor episode. Ben, 31, woke up in the middle of the night in “panic mode.” He admitted that he suffers from anxiety issues and said he dealt with “50 seconds of hysteria.” Tribemate Kenzie Petty was there and she sat with him until the panic subsided. Kenzie said her mother and sister also deal with anxiety issues.
Jeff said he wasn’t personally there during the attack. However, he watched it back on video and was “proud” of Kenzie at that moment. “I’m obviously moved and very satisfied that Ben’s community, in this case, Kenzie, specifically, took care of their own,” Jeff said. He also mentioned that this level of care and concern wouldn’t have happened 15 years ago.
Jeff said that Survivor is a reflection of modern-day culture. He said you can watch seasons and see how things have shifted, grown, and changed throughout the years.
What are your thoughts on how Survivor deals with mental health struggles? What was your reaction to Ben’s panic attack and Kenzie’s assistance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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