Fast expanding charity welcomes Dr Alex UK mental health ambassador role

By Good News Post

The head of one of Britain’s fastest growing youth mental health charities has welcomed the appointment of Love Island’s Dr Alex as the government’s mental health youth ambassador.

Dr Alex will now work closely with government to improve the education and support for young people across schools, colleges and universities.

Dawn Carey of In Charley’s Memory in Somerset said the appointment by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson is good news but needs to be backed by much more help and action.

In recent years ICM has been helping hundreds of young people in Burnham and Highbridge, Weston-super-Mare and Bridgwater.

She said: “We are delighted to hear about Dr Alex and his appointment and he will further help raise these vital issues and get support. 

“There is no doubt that this mental health crisis across the country is the new silent pandemic. 

“It is getting worse by the day and more urgent action is needed by the government in so many ways.”

In Charley’s Memory was given its official charity status in March 2015 and since then has gone on to aid countless numbers of people as numbers needing their services rocketed. 

They received a £23,000 boost from the National Lottery Fund last year to help with their work.

ICM has worked with The King Alfred School Academy for many years since the tragic death of former student Charley after battling mental health issues. It is now helping many more schools across the county.

Dr Alex has been a passionate online campaigner for issues surrounding young people’s wellbeing, after battling with his own mental health and tragically losing his younger brother to suicide last summer.

In his new role, Dr Alex will also sit on the new mental health in education action group, chaired by children’s minister Vicky Ford and universities minister Michelle Donelan.

Speaking on Twitter, the 27-year-old star said: “I will be working with the government to make mental health a priority for both current and future generations.

“Now more than ever, we realise how fundamental this is. It’s time for change.”

Dr Alex told the prime minister he is “really, really passionate about helping young people through what has been an incredibly difficult time”.

“We can’t prevent bad things happening in the world but if we can give people that toolkit so that when things go wrong they know how to look after themselves, they know who to go to,” he added.

To access ICM’s affordable counselling, people can email counselling@incharleysmemory.co.uk or call  01278 557490.