Body Image and Mental Health

About

In this panel, Professor Heather Widdows, University of Birmingham, is joined by Chris Evans MP and Steph Bird from Girl Guiding to discuss just how deeply body image anxiety cuts, and its impact on people's self-esteem and behaviour.

Professor Widdows and guests discuss these connections, and what changes are needed in our value frameworks, cultures, and policies to improve this situation.

Chris Evans MP is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Islwyn. He has previously explained how he once suffered from body dysmorphia, and has discussed how media treatment of body image can negatively affect mental health.

Steph Bird volunteers in Communications and PR role for Girlguiding Birmingham including leading on social media. She also supports girls undertaking the Queens Guide Award (the highest award you can work towards in Guiding). In addition, she is a leader with both a Guide unit (girls aged 10-14 years) and a Ranger unit (14-18 years). Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, and aims to empower girls and young women to be their best and respond to the challenges of growing up today. They have worked extensively on body image and mental health, including a 2016 Girls' Attitudes Survey on body confidence, and a 2020 response to the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry on body image. Register here https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/ptr/departments/philosophy/news/2021/everydaylookism-campaign-facebook.aspx