Love Island doctor picks up Exeter degree

"Live you life, fear a little less" advises Alex George

A doctor who graduated from Exeter University has been back in the city to pick up another degree.

Alex George, who found fame on reality TV show Love Island now has an honorary degree to add to his 2015 original, in recognition of his campaign for extra psychological support for young people.

Dr George brought the nation accessible and reassuring advice directly from the medical frontline throughout the pandemic.

He is now also a best-selling author and the co-founder of Mettle, a mental fitness app for men.

He says he is on a mission to improve mental health support for children and young people and has campaigned for Early Support Hubs as well as alongside the Royal Foundation with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In a moving speech to new graduates this week, he spoke about how the death by suicide of his brother Llŷr spurs on his campaigning work, as he wants others to “see there is always a better day”. He thanked the psychology graduates for choosing to study the subject.

Dr George said he had been “moved to tears” when he received the letter offering him the award and spoke about the “incredible time” he had studying in the city.

“I loved my time at Exeter. there were many highs, but there were lows as well as well as many challenges through studying. But this place gave me a foundation in go on and live life in the way I wanted to.”

He told the audience about the life-changing advice given to him about a fellow student who died of cancer to “live your life and fear a little less”, and how as a shy person this had given him the confidence to challenge himself.

He advised the new graduates to embrace failure and celebrate victories.

“Things generally are not as great or bad as you think they might bean be. 95 per cent of the things you are probably worrying about will never happen and the following few per cent aren’t as bad as you think they are going to be. Go for it in life.

“Embrace failure. I believe failure is an absolutely inevitable part of not only life, but your journey to success. I believe success is impossible without failure.”

He also spoke about how pleased he was there was now less shame in people openly discussing their mental health, and how much this can help people build their physical and mental fitness.