The hit dating show Love Is Blind features single men and women doing blind dating the old-fashioned way – by talking to each other through a wall!

That’s right! In this Netflix dating show, producers want to find out if love truly is blind by seeing if couples propose without ever taking into account what their soon-to-be spouse might look like.

Emotions have run high over the course of the show, which gives contestants only ten weeks to meet their future spouse, go on a honeymoon, live together, meet their friends and family, and then take a trip down the aisle.

While there have been a few marriages as a result of the show, there have also been a lot of arguments that have left fans questioning the mental health services the show provides. One former cast member praised the show, but was shocked to find out about the lack of mental health support. Other cast members have been open about their struggles during filming, and some are taking legal action.

One Season 1 Contestant Opened Up On Her Mental Health Experience On Love Is Blind

Kelly Chase admitted that she wished she had a counselor available to her

Many contestants have taken to social media after the show aired – whether married or not – in order to talk about the experience of dating someone without ever seeing what they look like. Love Is Blind season 1 contestant Kelly Chase submitted an op-ed to Business Insider to share her experience on the show.

Although Kelly turned down her partner, Kenny Barnes, at the altar, she admitted that she made more female friends on the show than she thought she would. She also emphasized that the show did not give her a “script” but did feel like talking to producers during one-on-one sessions felt like “a therapy session.”

“I’m pretty sure my castmates felt similarly in their interviews. Either way, I think I needed some form of therapy and my interviews with production foreshadowed my experience working with coaches and therapists after filming the show,” she explained, noting that she was “surprised” that there were no mental health professionals to consult with during the show.

Kelly explained that the experience was “emotionally charged” and felt that she, and other contestants, would have benefited from counseling if it was made available to them during the show.

“I can’t speak for the rest of the cast and I’m not sure if this has changed since I filmed the show in 2018, but I had expected to have professionals on-site to help us through any big or little traumas that surfaced or new anxieties and fears triggered by filming or the experiment,” she added.

Danielle Ruhl Has Been Candid About Her Struggling Mental Health While Filming

Danielle Ruhl struggled during season two and wished that producers had done more to support her

Mental health became the subject of a lot of debate in season two after contestant Danielle Ruhl was shown having a breakdown in Mexico. Although she went on to marry her partner, Nick Thompson, the relationship did not last long. Nick Thompson and Danielle Ruhl went to marriage counseling before separating. Unfortunately, they were unable to make it work and Danielle filed for divorce about a year after saying “I do.”

Reflecting on her experience, Danielle Ruhl told Insider that she struggled with her mental health throughout filming and emphasized that the producers offered her no support. Although she disclosed her mental health history during the casting process, she felt that producers were only trying to “check the box” and “didn’t care” about her health.

She also emphasized that the panic attack that she had in Mexico, which involved her locking herself in a closet and crying, was misrepresented to viewers. After the scene occurred, Danielle told producers that she didn’t feel stable enough to continue filming.

“I kept telling them, ‘I don’t trust myself,’” she explained before alleging that producers pressured her and her fiancé to stay on the show.

One Contestant Claims Reality Stars Should Be Paid Like Employees

One season two contestant believes that Love Is Blind contestants should be paid for their time spent filming

Netflix has faced several lawsuits from past Love Is Blind contestants ranging from allegations of physical abuse that went unchecked to claims of exploitation. Season 2 contestant Jeremy Hartwell has accused the streamer of illegal and immoral behavior, especially with regard to their paychecks.

Hartwell appeared on the show but did not get engaged to any of the women on set. Therefore, he was only shown in a few episodes. However, he insisted that, during his brief time on the show, he noted some serious violations of labor laws taking place.

Some of these allegations included withholding food and water, over-pouring alcohol for contestants, and treating cast members as contractors when they should have been labeled employees.

Hartwell argues that cast members often worked up to twenty hours a day with little food, water, or sleep. He says that they were paid less than minimum wage on the show due to their lengthy filming schedules. Love Is Blind cast members do get paid approximately $1,000 per week, but there is a cap on how much they can earn.

Jeremy Hartwell has since partnered with Nick Thompson – Danielle Ruhl’s ex-husband – to create UCAN: the Unscripted Cast Advocacy Network. According to their website, their mission is to provide cast members on reality shows with resources to help them make informed decisions and get support in a “safe and supportive environment.”