Mental Health Awareness Week 2019 is from 13th – 19th May. The theme this year is Body Image. With more and more young girls and boys struggling with their own body image, this is an important issue to tackle and bring awareness to. Anyone can have issues with their body image, no matter what size, shape, gender, race or sexual orientation.
As young children, the thought of our own body image rarely enters our minds. However with the growing use of social media, people young and old are bombarded with the ‘ideal’ body type which puts enormous pressure to conform to societal standards of beauty. It is well recognised that a person’s mental health has a direct link with their body and the way they view it. Generally when a person is in a state of mental wellbeing they give themselves better care and this reflects on their physical wellbeing and body image as well.
Being body kind is important for general wellbeing both physically and mentally. Surrounding yourself with body positive influences has been shown to help improve body image by normalising different body types to emphasise that the societal standard body type is not the ideal.
Experiencing body image issues has become quite normal in today’s society however if it is impacting on your daily life it can lead to more serious problems such as eating disorders or body dysmorphic disorder. A poor body image can also be an indication of poor mental health and so it is important to stay on top of it. At The Eaves we have trained specialist counsellors and psychologists who can help support you through any of these issues. If you are unsure where to start, please get in contact and one of The Eaves team would be happy to assist you in finding the right therapist for you.