Useful Resources + Links:

GENERAL BODY IMAGE AND WELL-BEING

Article: The Telegraph reports that one third of young women are not attending for smear tests due to body image concerns - click here.

Data Sheet: Clean eating: Dispelling the myths around healthy eating - click here.

Publication: A selection of useful resources from the Mental Health Foundation in the UK in relation to looking after our mental health, including ‘how can we protect, promote and maintain body image’ - click here.

Guide: This resource provides some useful information about preparing for university whilst living with or recovering from an eating disorder - click here.

Guide: This resource provides some useful information about navigating social media and smartphone apps and changing the way that we engage with them - click here.

Website: The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation’s website contains various resources for persons with BDD - click here.

Website: For additional information on self-compassion - click here.

Podcast: Listen to Dr. Hazel Wallace and registered nutritionist Laura Thomas discuss diet culture, body neutrality and intuitive eating - click here.

Podcast: Positive body image: Listen to the hosts of the Appearance Matters podcast interview Dr. Tracy Tylka about positive body image and discuss relevant research studies on this topic - click here.

Podcast: Listen to psychotherapist Sharon Martin discuss ways of adding more self-compassion into your life - click here.

Podcast: Listen to dietitians Corrine Dobbas and Fiona Sutherland talk about body image and body image healing - click here.

Podcast: Listen to the hosts interview personal trainer Tally Rye about the concept of ‘Intuitive Movement’ - click here.

Article: This article on A Lust For Life website discusses modern gym culture and male body image. It touches on the pressure that this culture can place on men to adhere to a certain ideal body shape and size.

Article: This article provides some useful insight into body talk and practical suggestions on gently setting boundaries with friends or family who may be making unhelpful comments about your body.

YOUNG PEOPLE

Website: See spunout.ie for more tips from young people on maintaining positive mental health at - click here.

MEN AND BODY IMAGE

Document: America’s National Eating Disorders Association’s document on enhancing male body image - click here.

Podcast: On the following episode of the Appearance Matters podcast, the topic of male body image and the eating disorder muscle dysmorphia are discussed - click here.

Video: The following resource is a TED Talk given by researcher Dr. Scott Griffiths on the topic of muscle dysmorphia - click here.

Website: Further information about men & eating disorders - click here.

Article: Darren Kennedy opens up about body image and eating disorder concerns in this article.

Article: Gym culture and male body image pressure - click here.

WOMEN AND BODY IMAGE - PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM

Podcast: Body confident mums: Listen to the hosts of the Appearance Matters podcast interview “body image experts” Dr Zali Yager, Dr Laura Hart, and Dr Ivanka Prichard about postpartum body image - click here.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Website: Cyber Safe Ireland. For general information on safe internet and social media use.

Website: The following link contains 6 ideas for conversations with your child on internet use - click here.

Website: Be Safe Online. This web page provides access to a wide range of Online Safety resources, to support online safety for all. It has a section for parents/guardians and also a section for children and young people.

Website: Advice for parent on dealing with Cyberbullying.

Website: The digital age of consent in Ireland is 16. To read more about what this means - click here.

Website: Promoting self-compassion in children and teens - click here.

Podcast: Click here to listen to Dr. Charlotte Markey discuss what parents can do if they are concerned about their child’s social media use.

Podcast: Listen to registered dietitians Heather Mangieri and Amy Reed discuss the topic of body image in boys - click here.

YouTube: This video contains a reading of the book Listening to my Body by Gabi Garcia, a useful resource for teaching children to tune in to their body’s internal signals - click here.

Book: Anne McCormack: Keeping your child safe on social media. Five Easy Steps. Orpen Press. (2017).

Article: Click here to read this article from A Lust for Life – helping your teen to appreciate little things in life and encouraging them to consume less media on their various devices.

Article: The Guardian - The following article describes why many young people are making the choice to delete social media.

Article: Anne McCormack: 7 Steps to keep your child safe online – click here.

Article: The Guardian. ‘Revealed: the more time that children chat on social media, the less happy they feel’ – April 2017.

Article: Irish Independent. ‘Irish psychotherapist on the impact of social media on teens: ‘They’re presenting with clinical levels of anxiety that are having a debilitating impact on their lives’. 2016.

Article: The Guardian. ‘Photo-altering apps a ‘rabbit-hole’ for young girls, Teen Vogue editor says’. May 2017.

INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS

Programme: find information about peer support programmes here.

Guidelines: Cybersafe Ireland guidelines - download pdf here.

Supports in ireland

Young people

Bodywhys - “SeeMySelf” is an online programme designed for young people aged 15-24. This interactive 6 week programme focuses on different issues such as self-esteem, body image, media, and culture.

Childline – support for young people. Visit www.childline.ie. Call the helpline: 1800 66 66 66. Freetext: 50101.

Crisis Text Line - www.crisistextline.ie. Text HELLO to 50808 to begin.

SpunOut – youth mental health. Visit spunout.ie.

Jigsaw – youth mental health. Visit www.jigsaw.ie. Call the helpline: +353 1 472 7010.

BelongTo Youth Services – supporting LGBTI+ persons. Visit www.belongto.org.

Aware – support services for depression and bipolar disorder. Visit www.aware.ie. Call the helpline: 01 661 7211.

My Options – support for women with an unplanned pregnancy. Call 1800 828 010.

HSE Drug and Alcohol helpline - call 1800 459 459.

Women

Bodywhys - Eating disorder support service. Visit www.bodywhys.ie. Call the helpline: 01 2107906.

Women’s Aid – support for women experiencing domestic abuse or violence www.womensaid.ie. Call 1800341900.

Aoibhneas Women and Children’s Refuge – support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse or violence Visit www.aoibhneas.ie. Call the helpline: 01 867 0701. Freetext: 50101.

My Options – support for women with an unplanned pregnancy. Call 1800 828 010.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre - support for individuals who have experienced sexual violence. Visit www.drcc.ie. Call the helpline: 1800 77 8888.

Men

Bodywhys - Eating disorder support service. Visit www.bodywhys.ie. Call the helpline: 01 2107906.

Men’s Development Network – domestic abuse support for men. Call the helpline: 1800 816 588.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre - support for individuals who have experienced sexual violence. Visit www.drcc.ie. Call the helpline: 1800 77 8888.

Men’s Aid - domestic abuse support for men. Call the helpline: 01 5543811

General

Bodywhys - Eating disorder support service. Visit www.bodywhys.ie. Call the helpline: 01 2107906.

Samaritans - visit www.samaritans.org. Call the helpline: 116 123.

Mental Health Ireland – range of mental health supports for all persons. Visit www.mentalhealthireland.ie.

YourMentalHealth.ie – HSE mental health resources.

Pieta House – support for people engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide. Visit www.pietahouse.ie. Call the helpline: 1800 247 247.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre – support for individuals who have experienced sexual violence. Visit www.drcc.ie. Call the helpline: 1800 77 8888.

LGBT Ireland - visit www.lgbt.ie. Call the helpline: 1890 929 539.

See Change – working to reduce stigma about mental health in Ireland. Visit www.seechange.ie.

Crisis Text Line - www.crisistextline.ie. Text HELLO to 50808 to begin.

Aware – support services for depression and bipolar disorder. Visit www.aware.ie. Call the helpline: 01 661 7211.

HSE Drug and Alcohol helpline - call 1800 459 459.

Parents

Bodywhys - Eating disorder support services and programmes for parents. Visit www.bodywhys.ie. Call the helpline: 01 2107906.

Parentline – visit www.parentline.ie. Call the helpline: 1890 92 72 77 or 01 873 3500.

Parent support – visit www.parentsupport.ie.

One Family – visit www.onefamily.ie. Call the helpline: 1890 662 212 or 01 662 9212.

Teachers

HSE Education Programme – Emotional well-being training and resources for primary and post-primary school teachers - click here.

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