A&E doctor and former Love Island contestant Dr Alex George has been named the UK government's youth mental health ambassador by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In this unpaid role, he will help shape policy and advise on support for young people, according to Downing Street.
Dr George, who has 1.7 million Instagram followers, said: 'Never has mental health been as important as now. From schools to universities, the NHS and the wider public, mental health matters.' The Prime Minister highlighted the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, praising their 'heroic adaptation' and stressing the need to focus on mental wellbeing ahead of their return to school.
Since appearing on Love Island in 2018, Dr George has continued working in A&E at University Hospital Lewisham in London. He has used his social media platform to promote health messages, including chlamydia testing and anxiety breathing exercises. Last month, he publicly requested a meeting with the PM to discuss better mental health provisions.
In his new role, Dr George will examine support offered in schools, colleges and universities, and advise the government on further measures. He will also signpost existing support. He joins the Mental Health in Education Action Group, set up to address the return to school after lockdown.
Dr George said: 'Right now young people need a voice in government, and I hope that through this role I can advocate for meaningful change.' Claire Murdoch, NHS mental health director, praised his commitment to the NHS and the nation's mental health.
