Dr Alex George
As LoveIsland nears the grand finale on Monday night, TV’s Dr Alex George looks back at his own time on the show, the career it opened up to him and looks forward to his new role as a mental health ambassador…
Few people, Dr Alex included, could have imagined the incredible career that was to open up after his sunkissed stint on LoveIsland in 2018. The current series ends on Monday, 23 August and the one piece of advice he has for the winner is, ‘Don’t underestimate what it can be like coming out… and don’t leave a good job if you can’t go back to it.’ Since his own time in the house, the quietlyspoken doctor has become one of the country’s key advocates for mental health (having taken up a role with Boris Johnson’s government), appearing on TV shows like Lorraine and giving his considered take on the pandemic, as well as working behind-thescenes as an A&E doctor. Here, Alex, now 30, whose brother Llŷr tragically took his own life last July, opens up about his own mental healths…
Hi, Alex. Love Island was a great springboard for your career, wasn’t it?
Absolutely. Though it all feels like a very long time ago now – but it was great at the time! I enjoyed it because I met loads of people who I just wouldn’t have met and connected with in the outside world.
The pressure, especially coming out of the villa, can be intense, can’t it...
ITV provides a ‘duty of care’ to contestants now. I wasn’t involved directly in that, but I think they’ve done and will be doing quite a lot to support the housemates. I guess it’s up to the latest batch of contestants to say whether it’s enough – we’ll see afterwards.
Some people went overboard with booze in lockdown! Did you?
No, I hardly drank at all! The truth is, drinking among
Gen Z and millennials decreased during lockdown, and I was one of those! I was working and really wanted to focus on my mental health and wellbeing. I like a few drinks, sure, but I think I’m one of a growing group of young people who choose to have nonalcoholic drinks that go beyond a Diet Coke or an apple juice. I’ve really enjoyed Caleño’s pale ale beers and gin alternative. In fact, I like it so much, I’ve become an ambassador for them.
What’s behind that decision, do you think?
People have been dealing with
heightened anxiety during this pandemic and when you have a drink, especially too much, the next day or couple of days you can get a real sense of anxiety – ‘hangxiety’ – palpitations, worry. People just don’t want that. Find your personal stop button – listen to your body when you know you’d had enough, you’ll be pleased you did the next morning!
As an A&E doctor, how do you feel now that most Covid restrictions are lifted?
It’s great to see the vaccine rollout continuing – obviously it’s trying particularly to encourage young people to get the jab. Covid cases are rising, no doubt about it. But it’s all in the data, and we’re not seeing anywhere near the same numbers of infections or deaths that we did before. But that doesn’t mean that it might not get back there, if we’re not careful.
Some people argue the validity of the vaccine…
Well, we know the disease can have a massive impact on older people but recently I’ve seen more young people being admitted to intensive care. We know that happens. You can’t be sure just because you’re young, you won’t be one of them. Secondly, what if you feel OK, but pass it on to someone who is seriously unwell or even dies from the encounter?
A lot of people, especially young ones, just want to let loose…
Yes. We want people to be safe but it’s a delicate balance. The mental health impact of this pandemic has been huge. We will have to see as time goes on just what that is.
What would you say to anyone struggling?
Don’t feel alienated or ashamed. So many people will be feeling exactly the same way – there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with you. Everyone goes through difficult times. They key when you hit those downs is to reach out to people, whether it’s the Samaritans, a teacher, employer, family, friends, your GP. Don’t go quiet. As soon as you’ve thought, ‘I don’t feel right, do I need to get help?’, get it. There’s always hope that you’ll get better, and most things do pass.
As a mental health ambassador, how does it feel going to Number 10?
When you’re born in a little village called Carmarthen, in Wales, it’s not something you really expect to happen to you, you know? But good things and bad things happen, the culmination of which takes you down a certain path. My path has taken me to where I am now, and I’m really enjoying it. I can’t promise to fix the world’s problems but if I can come in and do something positive, I’ll be very happy.
Any other campaigns you’re working on at the moment?
One is a wellbeing video that’s gone out to schools, another for older children and adults – how to get support if you’re struggling and the other, our hope is to get government funding for Early Support Hubs – a drop-in service for Under-25s. Anyone can walk in for support with mental health and wellbeing, which is awesome.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I love The Crown. I could happily binge that all day. I especially loved Olivia Colman as the Queen. And I don’t know about actually getting there but my dream destination would definitely be a little sailing trip around the Greek islands. I’d have to slap on the Factor 50, though, knowing my skin…
● Alex George is collaborating with Caleño, a range of distilled nonalcoholic spirits. See calenodrinks.com