A transgender model who was attacked twice after appearing on a reality show and attempted to take her own life has slammed ITV for not providing enough support after her stint on television.

Tia Latham, who lives in London but was born and grew up in High Wycombe, starred in Survival of the Fittest in 2018 – a show which pits the sexes against each other in a luxury South African lodge in a fight for survival.

Since her appearance, Tia, 29, says she has been abused in public – and in January last year, relived the terrifying moment her and her friend were chased by metal pole-wielding thugs in an apparent transphobic attack in Hazlemere.

Since then, she has also reportedly had a liquid thrown over her, which at first she feared was acid – and a devastated Tia told the Bucks Free Press she attempted to take her own life on Boxing Day last year after everything got too much to handle.

Describing the trauma she has experienced, Tia said the past few months have been “absolutely horrific” – and now wants to raise awareness about what she has been through.

Controversy around the aftercare and support offered in the wake of reality TV shows has hit the headlines in the past following the deaths of two former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.

And Tia has also criticised ITV, saying she practically had to beg producers for support following Survival of the Fittest – claiming the channel neglected her and left her mental health in tatters.

She was finally sent for therapy – but only after she went down to the ITV headquarters to demand help.

She said: “It was after the second attack when I had a substance thrown over me that ITV offered me therapy. Their solution was to put me on medication and it was the wrong medication. It made me feel suicidal.

“I had three doctors afterwards say I should never have been put on them. Since I stopped taking them, I feel like myself again, I feel completely normal.

“I’m lucky to have loving people around me. How could I make a difference to the world if I’m not here? It is so important to raise awareness.”

In a statement given to The Sun, ITV said it was “very sorry” to hear about Tia’s “mental health difficulties over Christmas” and vowed to remain in contact and continue to offer support.

For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for more details.