Dr Alex George reveals he came close to taking his own life two years ago after ending up in a ‘dark place’ as he shares candid mental health advice

Dr Alex George has revealed he first came close to committing suicide two years ago.

The former Love Islander and mental health activist, 35, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share some heartfelt advice during Mental Health Awareness Week.

He told how he fell into a ‘dark place’ in 2024, but running and supporting his friends put him on a happier path.

Dr Alex has always been open about his mental health issues and lost his younger brother Llyr to suicide in 2020.

In his new post, Alex sat on the steps of his London flat and said: ‘I’ve never shared this story until now. Two years ago, I sat on these stairs and considered ending my life. Actually, I wanted to end my life. I was so nervous that I was afraid.

‘I was scaring myself because I felt out of control. But I looked at Rolo (his dog) sitting at the bottom of the stairs and said I should try to stay. I gave myself this option; I either go immediately or go for a run.

‘And continuing this run literally saved my life. This relieved me so much that when I got back, I called my friend Adam and asked for help. And that phone call led to changes, which means I’m still sitting on these stairs in my apartment today. That’s how close he got.

The former Love Islander and mental health activist, 35, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share some heartfelt advice during Mental Health Awareness Week.

‘No one looking before or even after the intersection I was at would have any idea. I wanted to share this because Mental Health Awareness Week isn’t just about reducing shame and stigma, it’s really about giving people hope.

‘Some days are truly dark, but better days are always on the way. No matter what you deserve in life, you are and should remain loved.’

She later wrote in the caption of her video: ‘I’ve never shared this before and wasn’t sure I would. The truth is, I was in a very dark place and very close to not being here anymore. People say running saved their lives, and at that moment it really saved mine.

‘That phone call changed the course of the night and saved me. I’m so glad I asked for help.

‘Please remember that while dark times are coming, better days are always on the way. You deserve to live. You are loved. ‘You should stay.’

In December, Dr Alex revealed the heartbreaking reason why he spent Christmas alone five years after his brother’s death.

Alex has been open about how difficult the loss was for him and his family, and has since become a mental health advocate. Earlier this year, he also revealed that he was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

The star announced his decision not to spend the festive season with his family at Christmas after the previous year’s festivities ended in a ‘car crash’. ‘This was not an easy choice and certainly not one I take lightly,’ he wrote. ‘But it’s the right thing for me this year.’

Alex said Christmas is supposed to feel ‘magical’, but it can be really hard not having someone you love at the table.

“Christmas is supposed to be magical but I’m honestly finding it really hard,” she wrote in her caption. ‘Everything suddenly speeds up, the diary gets bogged down, there are too many emotions and a constant reminder that someone is lost.’

Speaking in the video, Alex said: ‘The reason I decided to do this was because of a car accident last Christmas.

‘I was struggling towards the end of the year. I’ve just been diagnosed with OCD and I think what I didn’t realize was that OCD is like a terrible downward spiral and I went home for Christmas and looking back it was the worst thing to do because that home with my family that I loved so much was a toxic environment for someone who was really struggling.

He told how he fell into a ‘dark place’ in 2024, but running and supporting his friends put him on a happier path.

Dr Alex has always been open about his mental health issues and lost his younger brother Llyr to suicide in 2020.

‘Not because of people, but sometimes when you’re in a situation where other people are struggling and there’s a lot of emotion and you get really down… and it can easily come across like ‘my family is the problem or I feel bad like they’ve caused the problem’.

‘Aren’t they just people going through a tough time?’

She added: ‘I think sometimes being around other people who are struggling can lift you up, but at other times of the year when it’s Christmas, the reminder that they’re not there and you’re supposed to be happy, all that can actually make things a lot worse.’

Alex announced that he started medication again in January after the difficult holiday period.

He added: ‘The reason I wanted to share this with people is because I think we all want to pretend that there are happy families at Christmas and everyone is happy, but actually Christmas can be one of the hardest times of the year.

‘If you weren’t connected to this in some way and the family dynamics were complicated, I don’t think you would watch this video. ‘People’s experience of suffering is complex and sometimes the combination of these may not be good for you.’

Giving advice to anyone involved with his story, Alex said: ‘If you’re watching this now and you’re in a place where you’re worried about something similar, my advice to you would be to plan early.

‘It might not be ‘I don’t want to spend Christmas with you’, it might just be ‘If we can spend Christmas together I need to know that I can go and handle this time myself.’ “There might be boundaries like, ‘I don’t want to look at certain videos or trigger things, or I don’t want to sit and look at photo albums because that’s going to be hard for me.'”

‘I mean you’re hardly alone. I understand Harry Potter, Christmas events and christmas lights but at the same time I find it really difficult and you don’t have to love or hate Christmas. Many things can exist at the same time and that’s okay.’

In 2023, Alex revealed she felt ‘a lot of guilt and shame’ after her little brother committed suicide, and heartbreakingly admitted that she wondered if she could spot any signs that something was seriously wrong.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article please call Samaritans free on 116123 or visit: www.samaritans.org