It’s Mental Health Awareness Week here across the UK (13-19th May 2019), and this year’s theme is Body Image – how we think and feel about our bodies.
The media has always played a key role in the portrayal of idealised beauty standards & the influence this has on the way we view ourselves; in this age of social media, this is no different. In an online survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation & YouGov (March 2019), they found that one in five adults and 40% of teenagers interviewed said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image. Just over one-third of adults said they’ve felt anxious or depressed and one in eight expressed suicidal thoughts or feelings because of their body image.
The first step to creating a change is to create awareness. That’s why at Face of Birmingham, we take pride in championing all the uniqueness that uniforms our city. People come from different walks of life, in all shapes & sizes and it’s a core part of our mission to represent these people and their stories.
This week, to mark the Mental Health Awareness campaign we are celebrating everyBODY (pun intended) and encouraging you to love the skin you are in.
If you or anyone you know is affected by any of this, you can find access to the support lines provided by the Mental Health Foundation here.
[https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/getting-help]
You can also join in the conversation online using the official hashtag #BeBodyKind.
Look out for the upcoming exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery titled ‘Within & Without: Body Image and the Self’, which set to examine how social & cultural factors have affected body image throughout history to the present day. Opening July 22nd until September 1st 2019, free entry.
