Dr Alex George, the former NHS doctor turned mental health campaigner and UK government youth mental health ambassador, has shared a profoundly personal journey detailing the struggles that shaped his life's work. From feeling out of place in school to the trauma of the Covid-19 frontline and the devastating loss of his brother, his story is one of resilience and a determined mission to help others.
A Childhood of Sensitivity and School Struggles
Born in Carmarthen in 1991, Alex George describes himself as a happy but sensitive boy with a vivid imagination. However, his school years in Carmarthenshire were marked by significant difficulty. He experienced what he describes as intense rejection sensitivity dysphoria, a trait associated with his later ADHD diagnosis, where any perceived criticism felt crippling.
He recalls a pivotal moment when a teacher told his mother, in front of him, that they needed to "lower our expectations of Alex in life." That harsh assessment, rather than breaking him, ignited a fierce determination to prove his doubters wrong. A practical incentive from his father – £100 towards a car for every GCSE A grade – provided the focus he needed, and he achieved straight As.
The Path to Medicine, Love Island, and a Friend's Final Wish
Inspired by television shows like 24 Hours in A&E, George pursued medicine, graduating in 2015 and landing his "dream job" in the A&E department at King's College Hospital in London. His life took an unexpected turn when a TV producer contacted him via a dating app, asking him to join the cast of the reality show Love Island. He initially laughed off the approach.
The request gained poignant significance following a conversation with his close friend, fellow medical student Freya Barlow, who was dying from acute myeloid leukaemia. "She said, 'Alex, you're so capable. I want you to throw yourself into things more. I can't continue my life so please live yours,'" George remembers. While he doubts she meant a reality TV show, it was the opportunity that sprang to mind. He accepted a place on the 2018 series, viewing it as a potential short break.
The Trauma of the Pandemic and a Life-Shattering Loss
The intense scrutiny of television fame was soon eclipsed by the horrors of the Covid-19 pandemic. Working in A&E at University Hospital Lewisham, George was confronted with death on a massive scale and the heartbreak of enforcing visitation bans. He recalls having to tell families they could not say goodbye in person, offering an iPhone instead, a experience he describes as making him "feel like the devil."
Amid this professional trauma, personal tragedy struck. In the summer of 2020, a week before he was due to visit his family in Wales, his father called with devastating news: his 19-year-old brother, Llŷr, had died by suicide. George immediately became the anchor for his grieving, non-functional parents, describing himself as being "minus 100 in terms of my stability" but forced to take the lead. He spoke at the funeral and dedicated himself to supporting his mother and father through their unimaginable grief.
Finding Purpose in Pain and a Path to Recovery
In the aftermath, George channelled his pain into action. He continued writing his book, a move some saw as callous but which he saw as a lifeline to normality. He was appointed the UK's Youth Mental Health Ambassador in 2021. However, the toll of his campaigning, work, and unresolved grief eventually manifested physically and mentally. Three years ago, a moment of clarity in his hairdresser's mirror – seeing a 20st man with empty eyes – forced a reckoning. He realised he had "completely lost" himself and was using alcohol to numb the pain.
This sparked a journey of recovery involving sobriety, daily walks (which inspired his podcast, The Stompcast), exercise, therapy, and a recent diagnosis and treatment for OCD. He now manages his wellbeing through nature with his dog Rolo, motorcycle riding, antidepressants, and carefully curating his environment, including limiting exposure to triggering news.
He has found a profound perspective on grief, stating, "the only relief I'll get from grief is death," a feeling underscored when he sees his parents. Yet, this understanding fuels his purpose: while he cannot bring his brother back, he can strive to help others. His mother has also found solace in action, raising significant funds for charity through her knitting.
Reflecting on a visit to Llansteffan beach the day after Llŷr's death, George recalls a moment where the bustling world seemed to pause in respect before carrying on. "The kids were playing, waves kept rolling in and out... I realised that life goes on," he says. "We are all just grains of sand." Now, through his role, his books including the latest Happy Habits, and his advocacy, Dr Alex George is determined to ensure others struggling with their mental health find the support and hope they need to keep going.
