As a Dietitian specialising in Eating Disorders, weight concerns and Body Image, I listen to many people struggling with their relationship with their body. I hear so many hateful words that people use to describe their bodies and it always stuns me that we would never use these words to describe another person. In our diet and thin obsessed world which purports to promote health, it also strikes me that many of the messages that come across in ads, magazines, the media, images, social media, gyms, and perhaps from those around us (friends, family, colleagues) also only make us feel terrible about ourselves. The irony of this is:

The Collective family acknowledged World Mental Health Day last Thursday 10th October as one of particular importance as its focus this year was on suicide prevention. Looking after our mental health can be especially challenging for those experiencing difficulties and hardship as a result of the extended drought conditions. We have some understanding of what our clients are going through and have the privilege of listening to their stories and offering support as best we can.

Definition of Self-Compassion:

Having compassion for oneself is really no different than having compassion for others. Think about what the experience of compassion feels like. First, to have compassion for others you must notice that they are suffering. If you ignore that homeless person on the street, you can’t feel compassion for how difficult his or her experience is.

Social September 2019 encourages us to press pause and disconnect from our digital lives and reconnect with each other and ourselves. The aim is to create opportunities for face-to-face connecting promoting positive mental health and well-being.