Body Image - Mental Health Week May

Mental Health Awareness Week:

What is mental health week? This years mental health week is about body image and how we see ourselves. The mental health organisation found that 30% of adults have felt stressed by body image and appearance, and felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. That’s almost 1 in 3 people.

How does body image affect mental health?

Having concerns over how you look and having concerns over your image is a relatively common experience and is not a mental health problem in itself, however it can be a risk factor for mental health problems.

“Higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress and risk of unhealthy eating behaviours and eating disorders.” – the mental health foundation

What causes body image concerns?

The way in which experiences and environment affect our body image will be different for everyone. Overall the research suggest that body image can be influenced by:
Our relationships with our friends and family
How friends and family speak to us about our appearance
Exposure to images of unrealistic or idealised bodies through media and social media platforms
Pressure to look a certain way.

New Body Image statistics:

One in five adults (20%) felt same and just over one third (34%) felt down or low, and 19% felt disappointed because of their body image in the last year.
Among teenagers 37% felt upset and 31% felt ashamed in relation to body image
Just over one third of adults said they had ever felt anxious (34%) or depressed (35%) because of their body image.
On in eight (13%) adults experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of concerns about their body image.
Just over one in five (21%) said images used in advertising had caused them to worry about their body image.
Just over one in five (22%) of adults and 40% of teenagers said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image.

What can we do to help?

There is a need nationwide and worldwide to promote positive body image and support good mental health and wellbeing in relation to our bodies. Everyone had a right to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. What else can be done:
Effective regulation of how body image is portrayed
For social media companies to play a key role in portraying body kindness
Taking a public health approach to body image by training frontline health and education staff
Individually being made more aware of how we can take care of ourselves and others in relation to body image.

If you are every feeling low, or just need to talk to someone do reach out to your friends and family. If you need further help please do contact the following phone numbers:

Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)

Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)

Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men’s Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.

Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)

Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.

Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)

Website: www.nopanic.org.uk

OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.

Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm)

Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.

Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.ocduk.org

PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.

Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm, and 2pm to 5pm on weekends)

Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.