A vision of vulvas: expanding knowledge and concepts of diversity
The body positive movement has exploded in the last decade. Now, itβs finally expanding to a much less talked about part of women's bodies - the vulva.Β Β The female anatomy has always been something of a spectacle. Early renaissance artists sculpted the dips and folds of womenβs bellies, the curves...
Current in Wellness
Reproductive healthcare in England sees yet another setback
Marking a significant regression in the abortion rights of women across the country, the government has scrapped its βpills by postβ scheme, which has been celebrated as a game changing move that made terminating unwanted pregnancies safer and more accessible. Throughout the duration of Covid-19, attitudes towards the ever-contentious...
Opinion β our obsession with wellness is hurting both us and the planet
Although wellness touts itself as being the key to a more fulfilling life, it may in fact be destroying both our bodies and the planet. Throughout the last decade, βwellnessβ has become such a ubiquitous part of mainstream culture that in 2022, itβs relatively difficult to imagine a world without...
Opinion – Letβs drop our self-improvement obsession in 2022
Reports predict almost half of UK citizens vow to exercise more, improve their diet, or lose weight at the turn of a new year. But is that an image we should still be chasing? Food, sparkling wine, Christmas markets and snow; I have loved this time of year ever since...
Could prescribed park visits aid our mental health?
Canadian healthcare practitioners are now allowed to prescribe patients a year-long pass to the countryβs national parks in a bid to improve their mental and physical health. If youβve struggled or are currently struggling with mental health issues, I know what youβre thinking: when has a medical professional suggesting...
Influencers may soon have to label digitally-altered images
To combat the rise of eating disorders and body confidence issues post-pandemic, a proposed bill in the UK is calling for commercial photos featuring retouched bodies to be labelled as such. Last February, the UKβs Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that social media influencers had to begin disclosing when using...
Political community βCoup de Cakeβ returns to promote mental wellness
Coup de Cake are returning with βCake Confessionalsβ to spread awareness on understanding peace of mind - one iced bake at a time. Coup de Cake - a political community forged in icing - are teaming up with artist agency hen house to bring their βCake Confessionalsβ icing workshop to East London. Using vegan cakes provided by the community, attendees will gather to decorate the bakes. The theme for this weekend's...
How colourful post lockdown fashion is helping to boost our moods
Itβs the question on the mind of fashion lovers around the world - can orange really be the new black? According to fashion psychologists, it already is. After spending the majority of the last year moping around in loungewear and PJs, many have emerged ready to experiment with their fashion this winter, and as it turns out, brands are here to support it. Bold colours made a healthy appearance on catwalks...
Why is empathising with celebrity mental health issues so hard?
Celebrities struggle with mental health problems too - but can their public disclosure ever be useful when so many find it hard to truly believe them? Stigma around mental health struggles is diminishing. Workplaces are starting to take it seriously, discussing the subject more openly, while online spaces are becoming rife with advice on how to cope. But opening up about depression or anxiety is still inherently difficult. It requires being...
The hashtag destigmatising mental health medication
#PostYourPill has been making the rounds on social media this month. What is this viral trend and how is it seeking to change the way we view antidepressants? In 2021, some may say that the mental health conversation is a double-edged sword. This is because while arguably more work has been done during the last twelve months to eliminate stigma than in recent decades, never before have so many of...
