Love Island star Dr Alex George reveals heartbreaking reason he’s spending Christmas alone five years after his brother took his own life aged 19

by

Dr. Alex George, known from Love Island, has shared the sad reason he’ll be spending Christmas by himself – it’s been five years since he lost his brother.

In 2020, the Welsh TV personality’s 19-year-old brother, Llyr, sadly died by suicide.

Alex has openly shared his struggles and grief following a significant loss for him and his family. He’s since dedicated himself to raising awareness about mental health, and recently disclosed that he’s been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

The actor has revealed he won’t be celebrating Christmas with his family this year. He described last year’s holiday as disastrous and explained that while the decision was difficult, it’s what he needs to do for his own well-being.

Alex pointed out that even though Christmas is supposed to be a magical time, it can be incredibly hard when a loved one isn’t there to celebrate with you.

He admitted that Christmas, while meant to be a magical time, is actually quite challenging for him. He explained that the holidays bring a sudden increase in activity, a full schedule, strong emotions, and constant reminders of someone he’s lost.

In the video, Alex explained that the reason for his decision stemmed from a car accident last Christmas.

I was really having a hard time near the end of the year. I recently found out I have OCD, and I now realize it was getting much worse. Going home for Christmas, though, turned out to be a mistake. While I love my family, being in that environment actually made things harder because it was a really difficult time for me.

It’s not about the people involved, but when I’m feeling really down, being around others who are also going through tough times and experiencing strong emotions can be difficult. It’s easy for it to seem like I’m blaming my parents or making them the source of my problems, and that’s not what I intend.

‘They haven’t they’re just humans going through a difficult time.’

He explained that being around others who are going through difficult times can sometimes be encouraging, but holidays like Christmas can actually make things harder. The reminder of those who are missing, and the pressure to be happy, can amplify feelings of sadness and make a tough situation even worse.

Alex went on to reveal he ended up back on medication in January after the tough festive period.   

I wanted to share this because while we often wish everyone had a perfect, happy Christmas, the holidays can actually be a really difficult time for many people.

If you’re watching this, it’s likely because you understand what I’m talking about – family relationships can be really complicated. Everyone experiences hardship in different ways, and sometimes those experiences, especially within a family, can be particularly difficult to deal with.

If you’re going through something similar, Alex suggests planning ahead. He advises, ‘If you’re watching this and worried about the same thing, start planning early.’

It’s not necessarily a refusal to spend Christmas together, but rather setting personal limits. For example, someone might say, ‘If we do spend Christmas together, I need some alone time afterwards.’ Or, ‘I’d prefer to avoid certain topics, videos, or looking at old photos, as those things are difficult for me.’

It’s okay to have mixed feelings about Christmas. I understand it can be a tough time, even if you enjoy some things about it, like Harry Potter or Christmas lights. You don’t have to either love or hate it – it’s perfectly normal to feel both positive and negative emotions at the same time.

In 2023, Alex shared that he struggled with intense guilt and shame following his brother’s suicide. He sadly admitted to questioning whether he could have noticed his brother was in serious distress.

Alex explained to Coleen Nolan on her podcast that his friend struggled during the pandemic, like many young people. Given the circumstances of lockdown, it wasn’t surprising he was unhappy, and they didn’t anticipate any particular outcome at the time.

Looking back, it’s tough to see what warning signs we missed. It was a really difficult time for my parents. My brother and I were also deeply affected, as we were all living together then.

I was living and working in London, creating videos for Instagram and YouTube focused on mental wellbeing during the pandemic.

I put out a video just two weeks before he passed away, and when someone dies, it’s natural to feel guilty and ashamed, wondering if there were any signs you missed.

As someone who’s navigated a lot of public ups and downs, I’ve learned that healing isn’t about forgetting, but about reframing. I’ll carry the weight of past mistakes forever, honestly. But I’m now at a place where I can look back with a clearer perspective, and I truly believe that even in the darkest moments, suicide is preventable. It’s something I feel strongly about sharing, hoping it can help others reach out and find support.

He believes this experience will stay with him forever, but he’s now better able to accept that he can’t control the choices of others. He added that it’s normal for family members to worry and consider what’s best.

My view hasn’t changed. Suicide is something that can be prevented, and we should work towards a future where no one dies by suicide in this country.

The mental health ambassador shared a concerning statistic: suicide is the leading cause of death for people under 35. Their work focuses on increasing understanding of this issue and reducing the shame and prejudice surrounding it.

If you’re struggling with the issues discussed in this article, free support is available. You can call the Samaritans at 116123 or visit their website: www.samaritans.org.

Read More

2025-12-18 14:19