Mindful of how young people suffer
TV PICK OF THE WEEK
Dr Alex: Our Mental Health Crisis
The pressures on young people today have arguably never been greater, with concerns about issues such as identity and social media, future job prospects and climate change – not to mention the isolating impact of the pandemic.
This programme sees Dr Alex George follow the journeys of young people all over the UK who are living with mental health issues.
Children and young people across the country are facing short, medium and long-term impacts on their mental health and emotional wellbeing as a result of the pandemic and viewers will see Alex explore the wide range of mental health issues currently impacting children and young people and find out how local charities, including BBC Children in Need-funded projects, are making a difference.
As an A&E doctor, who serves as the UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, Alex has seen first-hand the effects of the pandemic on young people’s mental wellbeing, but he never thought it would affect his own family.
However, tragedy struck in July last year when Alex’s 19-year-old brother Llyr – who had been struggling with anxiety during lockdown – took his own life a month before he was due to start at medical school.
In this poignant film, Alex will follow the journeys of young people who are facing mental health issues, and explore the difference that can be made thanks to projects like SAFA, the Wave Project and YoungMinds.