BODY image issues have been broken down and explored at student seminars on eating disorders and self-esteem.
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The Butterfly Foundation is this week running workshops in Warrnambool, Portland and Camperdown, aiming to equip young people with knowledge to help their peers maintain body confidence.
About 40 young people from Mortlake, Warrnambool, Brauer, Hawkesdale and Emmanuel colleges attended a free training session at the South Warrnambool Football Club rooms on Tuesday.
The session presented the latest research and evidence-based approaches to preventing negative body image issues.
Hawkesdale College student Hayley Keane, 15, said young people struggled to cope with the big issues of body image and self-esteem.
“We’re learning instead of just thinking negatively (about yourself), to turn things into a positive… to take it in your stride and be inspired (by others) instead of jealous,” she said.
Sarah Seabrook, 15, from Hawkesdale College, said digital editing, such as Photoshop, and images on social media and TV could impact people’s self-esteem.
“We’ve looked at how other people’s opinions can affect how you see yourself,” she said.
Brophy Family and Youth Services youth project co-ordinator Lyn Eales said the foundation had reported that 935,000 Australians experienced an eating disorder last year.
"Obviously mental health issues are on the rise and body image is a significant risk factor,” she said.
“In recent surveys when young people are asked about their top three personal concerns, body image is consistently in there.
“It’s fantastic (the Butterfly Foundation) is here to deliver this training because there’s obviously a need.”
Butterfly Foundation education co-ordinator Amberley Laverick said it was important to show teenagers positive body esteem messages.
“These sessions bring an awareness to the community about body esteem and what we do,” she said.
Bryce Johnson, 16, from Warrnambool College, said the constant presence of social media contributed to building unrealistic stereotypes about how young people should look.
“If we talked more about body image instead of doing separate topics it would pretty much cover everything about ‘don’t judge’,” he said.
A session explaining body esteem issues to parents was held on Tuesday evening. Educators and professionals are invited to a separate forum on Wednesday.