Dr Alex George is one of the true heroes of the last two years. From his work as an A&E doctor, his tireless mental health campaigning to his strength in the face of personal tragedy - he’s been an absolute rock.
So when people are mean for meanness’ sake to Dr Alex, it gets a nation’s back up. Can everyone just stop being horrid for once? He was body shamed on Instagram through some horrible DMs - but has said the trolls “won’t win”. Too right.
Alex is currently enjoying a well-earned break in Mauritius with his girlfriend Ellie Hecht, and posted a picture of him living the life in his shorts in the sunshine with the caption, “Define a BEACH BODY? Beach (tick) Body (tick) Be proud of the skin you live in.”
While most of the thousands of comments were overwhelmingly positive and celebrating his joy (like, why shouldn’t they be, right?), Alex revealed that he’d received nasty messages from people who presumably were upset with a man having a body. “For those dming me and trying to ‘fat shame’ me,” he wrote, “You won’t win. Sorry.”
Bake Off legend Rahul commented and said, “Such a important message, thanks for sharing!”, while other followers praised Alex for his attitude and one commented, “Happiness looks good on you”. And it really does.
Alex has campaigned for improvements in mental health provision for young people since his younger brother Llyr took his own life in 2020. He was made Youth Mental Health Health Ambassador to the government as a result - he’s an all-round good guy.
Earlier this week, Alex launched a new mental health medication campaign, #postyourpill. He instagrammed a picture of him holding his medication in his hand, and talked about his path to improving his mental health to “take a stand against medication stigma” and encouraged his followers to do the same if they felt they could.
“I have been thinking quite hard about whether to post this, but I feel it’s the right thing to do,” he wrote on a picture of him holding his meds. “So many people live with medication stigma everyday, a fear that they will be judged as being weak or discriminated against, simply for taking a pill to help with their mental health. The other day I did a pole on my stories and 75% of you have faced medication stigma. That is so sad.
“I take medication, alongside therapy and self care, to help with my anxiety. I really needed this treatment but for years I didn’t access it, on reflection I was worried about what people would think. I can tell you now, I am not ashamed. I AM PROUD to take control of my own health. This does not make me weak or less able, it makes me stronger.
“How many people are not getting the treatments they need AND deserve because of this very stigma? This HAS to change. This post is not about saying medication is the ‘answer’ for everyone, rather to say that for those who need it should have access without barriers or shame.”