It's Time to Talk

Today is day 2 of Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2014.

Eating disorders, and all mental health issues to be honest, are rarely talked about in everyday conversation.

People who aren't sufferes are afraid to ask and usually don't understand due to the lack of education surrounding mental health issues; and people who have eating disorders or other mental health issues are afraid to speak out about their illness.

The way mental health illnesses are viewed in society needs to change, as people are afraid to admit they have a mental health issue and many do not recover help because of this. Also, due to the lack of knowledge surrounding eating disorders and mental health issues, many don't even realise themselves that they are ill.

My school (I won't say the name), is a private all girls school, and eating disorders are 3 to 4 times more likely there than a mixed state school.
Yet my school hasn't done a single thing for Eatring Disorders Awareness Week. No posters, no assemblies, nothing. And there are so many people in our school struggling with eating disorders, and they know that and yet still do nothing! They want to be in their perfect little bubble and pretend they don't exist. But they do exist, and not talking about it doesn't make the problem go away. It only makes it worse.

Mental health issues need to be talked about. It is nothing to be ashamed of and should not be a "taboo" subject.

Image via here.

If you asked someone with a mental health issue how they were getting on, even if they didn't want to talk, they would still appreciate the gesture.

I know myself that if people asked me about it, I would happily talk to them just like a normal conversation. Unfortunately it isn't like that.
- I still haven't plucked up the courage to write a post about Eating Disorders Awareness Week on my Facebook or Instagram, and my cousins still don't know so I can hardly post it on social media when I know they will see!

I wish I could tell people without them juding me. That is why this week is so, so important.

Please keep spreading the word, and talk about it! There is nothing wrong with asking questions or being curious about it- it isn't easy to understand, true; but if you ask someone who either has an eating disorder or knows someone who does, I'm sure you'll soon have a better understanding and therefore be able to be there for people in the future etc.

Stay strong, and raise awareness!

Hannah xox