‘We have to realise there’s a lot more to do’
says DR ALEX GEORGE
‘It has been the honour of my life taking on the role of Youth Mental Health Ambassador,’ Dr Alex George told his two million Instagram followers. ‘However, there is no hiding away from the fact it’s been incredibly bitter-sweet.’
It is no wonder mental health is such an important issue and is so close to the 30-year-old physician’s heart.
In July 2020, Dr Alex’s younger brother Llŷr took his own life, aged just 19. With no diagnosed mental health condition and having never discussed how he was feeling with his family, all of his relatives were left stunned – and devastated.
Dr Alex shared the tragic news with his social media fans. ‘I can’t believe I am actually writing this post.
I have lost my beautiful little brother to mental health. I love you so much Llŷr. The kindest and most caring soul.
‘ We are hurting so bad. No words can explain. As a family we are devastated. We love you and miss you so much. Please rest in peace x Our boy.’
Since then, Dr Alex has campaigned tirelessly for an increased awareness of mental illness and the importance of feeling able to speak out about it.
The former Love Island star uses his social media platforms and has given interviews to speak passionately about how we can all improve our mental health, as well as that of those around us – which is how he was made Youth Mental Health Ambassador by Boris Johnson earlier this year.
‘I think, yes, it is very important to look out for change in behaviour in family
members and friends – are they acting differently, are there things you’re worried about? – and ask them how they’re doing,’ he told Ranvir Singh on Lorraine.
‘But we also need people to feel that when they are struggling, they can talk about it and what I found very hard is that I think Llŷr didn’t feel that he could say it and I worry that shame was a big part of it.
‘It’s amazing we’re talking more about mental health now than we ever have done. But we have to realise there’s a lot more to do, particularly around young men, of changing this feeling of: “I shouldn’t be struggling, I shouldn’t ask for help” – there’s no shame in that.’
This is exactly why we are giving Dr Alex one of our Hero awards.
‘I am hugely honoured to receive this award,’ says Dr Alex.
‘I am very lucky to have an incredible team around me as well as fantastic friends and family who all support me in the work that I am doing in the mental health space.
‘I hope we can continue to raise awareness and focus on the issue in order to drive meaningful change around stigma and access to support.’
Congratulations, Dr Alex!
When The Not Forgotten (TNF) charity contacted Corporal Johnnie Ray back in 1998, it was at a time when he needed support the most. Having left the Army after suffering devastating injuries, he missed the camaraderie of the Armed Forces, the sense of community, the like-minded people – and being active.
He never imagined that 23 years later, he himself would be volunteering with the very same charity, supporting other ex- Service personnel – and proving to be a huge inspiration to others…
There’s no doubt that Johnnie was always destined to join the military. His dad, Gordon, was in the Navy for 27 years and, as a youngster, Johnnie could always be found running around with a stick in his hand and getting dirty!
In October 1985, aged 19, Johnnie joined the British Army as a guardsman and was later posted to Germany and Northern Ireland.
‘I think it’s difficult for civilians to understand, but in the forces, you work together side-by-side, you trust your platoon with your life, and there’s certainly a lot of banter,’ he laughs.
Johnnie worked his way up to Corporal and in July 1989, he was 14 days into a three-week training exercise in Canada with 2,000 other personnel. He and his platoon were due to start digging a trench as part of the exercise battle. He had no idea his life was going to change that day.
‘I started to dig and suddenly, without warning, I saw a flash and black smoke,’ Johnnie says. The next thing he knew, he was flat on his back, cocooned in a crater in the ground.
People were shouting and Johnnie could feel something wasn’t right with his legs. He tried to lift them and could see there was nothing there. The lower half of his legs had been blown off in the explosion, which was caused by a 76mm Scorpion tank shell.
As a combat medic ran over to help, Johnnie’s whole body was becoming numb. He was losing blood and the only thing he could feel was the medic trying to get an IV into him.
‘I thought I was going to die,’ Johnnie admits. He didn’t have
time to think about his injuries as he lost consciousness and was helicoptered to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in Alberta.
Fortunately, there was a convention happening in the hospital, which meant some of the top surgeons from around the world were there.
Johnnie’s injuries left him as a double amputee below the knees and while his parents flew out to be with him, Johnnie had to adjust, both physically and mentally, to his life-changing injuries. He also had five broken ribs and a lacerated liver. ‘I was flown back to the UK after three weeks to hospital in Woolwich, followed by Roehampton, where I spent three months battling a serious infection in my leg,’ Johnnie explains.
He was later transferred to Headley Court, where he began his gruelling rehab.
‘It was good to be with other servicemen and women, as well as other amputees,’ he says. But his rehabilitation was long – and frustrating.
‘ We take walking for granted, but having to relearn that and adjust to prosthetics, which weren’t as advanced in the late Eighties,’ he says. ‘It was painful and hard work, but I had a lot of support and a great social worker who listened to me on my bad days.’
He had to learn new ways to do things, was always assessing his surroundings and every step – as well as potential problems or obstacles – and it was exhausting. When he was well enough, Johnnie returned to the Army on desk duty, but struggled watching fellow soldiers train, running 10 miles a day with 120lbs of equipment – exactly what he used to do prior to his injuries. So, reluctantly, in October 1991, Johnnie left the Army and the job he dearly loved.
‘The Army is like a big, extended family and when you don’t have that support network any more… the camaraderie, focus, understanding and banter… it’s very difficult to come to terms with that loss,’ he says.
There wasn’t much help out there in those days, but Johnnie moved to Bristol and started work as an ambulance controller. Two years later, he met a nurse, Sarah, and they married in 1995.
‘Sarah had lost her mum to breast cancer when her mum was just 28, so that concern was always in the back of her mind,’ Johnnie says.
Tragically, just after Sarah turned 30, she too was diagnosed with breast cancer, needing a lumpectomy, followed by a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
‘It was a really tough, dark time,’ Johnnie says. It was around then that TNF had reached out to see if Johnnie wanted to attend an activity weekend with other ex-service personnel. ‘Sarah was adamant I should go,’ Johnnie says – and it was one of the best decisions he ever made.
Johnnie still doesn’t know who suggested TNF get in touch with him, but he’s extremely grateful.
‘The charity provides an amazing sense of community, there were people there who understood how hard it had been to leave the military – and coping with life-changing injuries,’ he says.
Devastatingly, Sarah lost her battle to cancer in October 2000 and Johnnie says TNF were there when he needed them the most…
And while many would have succumbed to their grief, Johnnie threw himself into volunteering with the incredible charity. Not only did he assist in running vital activity getaways, he was able to help others come to terms with injuries too – especially when they saw him canoeing, skiing and more.
With three other dedicated volunteers and workers, Johnnie would cook for the guests, encourage a little competitiveness – and support
‘It was hard work, but I had a lot of support’
others on their road to recovery.
‘The Not Forgotten are unique in that they are a social charity and you’re looked after regardless of if you spent one day or 35 years in service – we’re all looked after the same,’ he says. The charity made sure veterans didn’t feel alone during the pandemic and Johnnie helps to raise funds, and awareness for the cause which is very close to his heart.
He recently won a League of Mercy award, has attended events at Buckingham Palace and, in Johnnie’s own words, other ‘posh events’!
‘I wouldn’t be where I am today without The Not Forgotten,’ he says.
Johnnie, we think you’re a true inspiration – and a definite hero!