Mental Health Awareness Week: a focus on Body Image

For the benefit of my own mental health, I am aiming to blog once a day throughout Mental Health Awareness Week. Not only do I hope that each entry might help someone (even better if they are a friend on social media), but I hope that focusing on a different aspect of mental health every day might broaden my knowledge, education and understanding of key aspects of one’s mental health – good or bad.

This morning, I’ve been exploring our perception of body image, and the impact that this can have on our mental health. I was really sad to read that, according to the Mental Health Foundation, one in five UK adults have felt shame because of their body image in the last year. That’s a huge number – over 13 million people across the UK.

· 1 in 5 adults felt shameful of their bodies, whilst just over 1 in 3 felt down or low about their bodies, and almost 1 in 5 felt disgusted because of their body image over the last year.

· Amongst teenagers, 37% felt upset and 31% felt ashamed when asked about their body image.

· Just over one-third of adults said they had never felt anxious (34%) or depressed (35%) because of their body image.

· 1 in 8 adults experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of concerns about their body image.

· Just over 1 in 5 adults said images used in advertising had caused them to worry about their body image.

· Just over 1 in 5 adults (22%) and 40% of teenagers said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image.

These statistics are really worrying but, I’m afraid to say, unsurprising. Given the exposure that we receive to size 4 runway models, surgically-enhanced celebrities and airbrushed and filtered images (even our real-life friends!) it’s hard to know how you’re ‘meant’ to look in today’s society. I was particularly disappointed and frustrated to recently read how the Kardashian sisters deny promoting ‘skinny’ products/shakes targeted at their combined 537 million followers is irresponsible, given the prestige of their social platform. Their justification? That ‘given the opportunity to provide for their family, anybody would do it’. So essentially, they are prepared to cash in on a few extra million by falsely advertising products targeted (mainly) at young women with the message that we, too, could look like the Kardashians if we just drink a few laxative-filled ‘shakes’ a day. I’m not sure their children would notice the couple of million missing from their already gargantuan $1.6 billion combined net worth, mind you.

What can be done to remedy this issue?

Clearly, action is needed to build and promote positive body image and support good mental health and well-being in relation to our bodies. Everyone has a right to feel comfortable and confident in their own bodies and the report by the Mental Health Foundation highlights some key points:

· Effective regulation of how body image is portrayed. This ties in nicely with the responsibilities that social media influencers, celebrities and those with huge platforms have. There will always be weight-loss products or cosmetic remedies to sell and promote, but I am passionate that there should be more regulation surrounding the promotion of such industries.

· The need for commitment from social media companies to play a key role in promoting body kindness. Following the right people on social media is half the battle, I feel. I am lucky that my Instagram feed is filled predominantly with people who love their bodies. Whether that’s because they work out and enjoy the power they have to sculpt their physiques into a shape and size that they are happy with, are individuals who have overcome eating or mental health disorders or are just ordinary, down-to-earth and happy body enthusiasts like Megan Crabbe, making sure your exposure to positive influencers is an important start.

· Taking a public health approach to body image by training frontline health and education staff. This approach starts at home. Healthcare providers, GPs, parents and teachers need to continue sharing body positivity with their children from the get-go. There’s tonnes more support and guidance on fitness, healthy eating and positive body image than there used to be, so I hope to see this movement grow as months and years go by.

· We need to take responsibility for being individually aware of how we can take care of ourselves and others in relation to body image. This is possibly one of the biggest action points of all. Here are some tips on how to get started:

o If your body image is a significant cause of stress, or if you’re being bullied about how your body looks, consider talking to a friend, a trusted adult or health professional – they are here to listen.

o Run through any apps on your smartphone which could be causing you to question to your body image. This could relate to eating habits (apps like MyFitnessPal, for example), your appearance (any filtering or airbrushing apps) or even social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Sometimes we all need a good break from admiring how ‘perfect’ others and their lives look. (FYI – you only ever see the highlights reel!)

o Review how you promote body image at home, especially if you are an older sibling or parent. Re-affirm your belief that you are worthy, wanted and loved, and remind your family that they are, too.

o Be active – movement is a key way of reducing stress and it can help us to feel more body confident. Whether you enjoy feeling strong or simply sweating out some stress and anxiety, sometimes a brisk walk or quick pound on the treadmill or in the weights room can significantly help you to build a strong and positive body image.

Need someone to talk to? Struggling with your body image and not sure how you can improve your perception of self-worth? Here are some of my recommended contacts:

· Childline: 0800 111111 / childline.org.uk

· Get Connected: 0808 808 4994 / getconnected.org.uk

· Madly in Love: madlyinlove.org.uk

· Young Minds: 0808 802 5544 / youngminds.org.uk

· The Samaritans: 0845 790 9090 / samaritans.org

· Anxiety Alliance: 0845 296 7877 / anxietyalliance.org.uk