‘Llŷr is the fire in me to make change!’ Dr Alex George details his work as UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador 2 years after late brother’s suicide as he shares letter from prime minister
- For help, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email [email protected] for a response within 24 hours, or visit www.samaritans.org
His younger brother Llyr took his own life aged 19 in July 2020.
And two-and-a-half years on, Dr Alex George, 31, detailed his work as UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, as he shared a letter from the prime minister.
On Friday morning, the Love Island star took to Instagram where he posted a picture of the official letter and explained alongside how his late brother is what drives him to make a difference.
Ambassador: On Friday morning, Dr Alex George, 31, took to Instagram where he detailed his work as UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, as he shared a letter from the prime minister
Alex penned: ‘It is a privilege and the honour of my life to serve you as the first UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador. I will only step back from the role when the country no longer needs me or the role becomes untenable.
‘Right now I’m focused on working to help shape our approach to mental health and indeed illness. It is clear that we must move towards a prevention and early intervention based model. The current system is stretched to breaking point.
‘Over the last two years I have been working with government in the roll out of mental health support teams, securing £79 million pounds in additional funding to speed up this process. This is an important and welcome step. We do however need so much more.
‘With the formulation of ‘The Long Term Plan’ we need to see the funding and resources in the right place. I look forward to seeing the Government’s plans take shape over the next few months.
In tribute: The Love Island star explained how his late brother Llyr, who died by suicide in July 2020, is what drives him to make a difference
A snippet: ‘I’m not going to share the particulars of this letter as that would be disrespectful and I appreciate the Prime Minister’s response and commitment’ explained Alex
‘What keeps me awake at night is thinking of the nearly six Wembley stadiums of children who are waiting for mental health support in this country. Some of those children will wait two years. Two years.
‘Those of you who follow my page and work will know I have been working tirelessly with mental health stakeholders to get ‘Early Support Hubs’ funded. I am still committed to this cause.
‘These hubs would help 500,000 children and young people each year to live and not just survive. They are an essential *part* of the solution in my mind.
‘I’m not going to share the particulars of this letter as that would be disrespectful and I appreciate the Prime Minister’s response and commitment to improve the situation. I look forward to working with the new Prime Minister on these issues.
Details: Two-and-a-half years after his younger brother’s death, the Love Island star took to Instagram where he explained how his late brother is what drives him to make a difference
History: Alex was appointed as a Youth Mental Health Ambassador by former PM Boris Johnson, in February 2021 , after campaigning for better mental health provisions
‘I will work with who is before me, with my brother always firmly in my mind. Llŷr is the fire in me to make change happen. Thank you for all of your support, you make this all possible. Watch this space.’
Alex was appointed as a Youth Mental Health Ambassador by former PM Boris Johnson, in February 2021, after campaigning for better mental health provisions.
Alex got a tattoo tribute to his late brother last year, which reads his name alongside a line drawing of a wave.
The ink was written in Llŷr’s handwriting, which Alex took from one of his school books for extra meaning.
For help, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email [email protected] for a response within 24 hours, or visit www.samaritans.org.
In his honour: His younger brother Llyr took his own life aged 19 in July 2020
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