Dr. Alex George, appointed by the Prime Minister as the Youth Mental Health Ambassador, discusses the importance of mental health education in schools. He emphasizes the impact of mental and physical health on each other, normalizing mental health conversations from a young age, and the need for a well-rounded education including financial literacy, exercise, nutrition, and sleep.
Mental and physical health are interconnected and should be addressed together.
Taking control of different aspects of health, such as sexual health, physical health, sleep, stress management, relationships, and social media, can enhance overall well-being.
Creating an environment where mental health conversations are normalized can help individuals seek support and combat the stigma surrounding mental health.
Deep dives
The Connection Between Mental and Physical Health
Dr. Alex George emphasizes the importance of not separating mental and physical health. He uses the analogy of an injury preventing someone from playing football, which impacts both their physical and mental well-being. Physical health conditions can also lead to mental health problems, while mental health struggles can worsen physical health. The two are interconnected and should be addressed together.
Taking Control of Your Health
Dr. Alex George discusses the different aspects of health, including sexual health, physical health, sleep, stress management, relationships, and social media. He encourages individuals to take control of their health and offers practical tips and evidence-based advice in his book. By incorporating small changes in these different areas, people can enhance their overall well-being and happiness.
Breaking the Stigma and Seeking Help
Dr. Alex George shares a personal experience of struggling with his mental health during medical school and highlights the importance of seeking help when needed. He encourages individuals not to hesitate in reaching out to doctors or professionals, emphasizing that it is better to address and work on small problems before they escalate. Additionally, he aims to combat the stigma surrounding mental health and create an environment where reaching out for help is normalized and supported.
The Importance of Normalizing Mental Health Conversations
Creating an environment where mental health conversations are normalized can be beneficial for individuals and families. By incorporating a daily practice of sharing emotions and thoughts, such as using a traffic light system around the dinner table, families can create a supportive and empathetic atmosphere. This practice helps family members recognize when someone is struggling and provides an opportunity for support. Similarly, in schools, it is important to integrate mental health discussions early on to establish normalcy and openness around the topic.
The Dangers of Pursuing Unrealistic Beauty Standards
The podcast episode highlights the negative impact of societal beauty standards, particularly as portrayed on social media and reality shows like Love Island. The guest speaker, Dr. Alex George, shares his personal experience of intense dieting and exercise prior to appearing on Love Island, which led to negative mental health effects. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that most people are not naturally built or meant to look like the highly edited and filtered images seen on social media. Dr. George advocates for teaching young people the skills to have a positive relationship with social media, to recognize unhealthy comparisons, and to prioritize emotional well-being over appearance.
Recently appointed by the Prime Minister as Youth Mental Health Ambassador to the government, Dr Alex George is on a mission to make mental health education compulsory in schools. In this chat with Fearne, the A&E doctor explains why his goal is to ensure mental health sits alongside the likes of maths and English on the curriculum, and what we can all be doing to look after both our mental and physical health every day.
Alex’s book, Live Well Every Day, is available to buy from May 13th.
Thanks to the sponsors of this series of Happy Place, WeDo/. Find out more, and get your hands on lots of exclusive offers, by visiting wedoact.com/happy.
Content warning: this episode includes conversations about suicide, so please do take care while listening.
In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countriescan be found here.