Opinion – the heroin chic resurgence must be nipped in the bud
With nostalgia trends all the rage, nineties fashion has made a comeback. However, recent headlines touting thin as being ‘in’ again imply that so too has its toxic counterpart: the glorification of skinniness and the unhealthy behaviours necessary to achieve it. Although the popularisation of heroin chic occurred long before...
Current in Wellness
Opinion – We need to stop categorising unique traits as mental illness
According to popular online content, if you’re easily distracted, chatty, and energetic, you probably have ADHD. If you’re a little socially awkward and bothered by loud noises, perhaps you’re autistic. Why have we started demonising uniqueness to glamourise neurodivergence? And how is this damaging? It seems like every other week...
Should we normalise taking regular social media breaks?
Actor Tom Holland has announced he will be taking a break from social media for the sake of his mental health. Does his openness mark a turning point in our attitudes toward anxiety, depression, and the internet – particularly amongst young men? Celebrities announcing their withdrawal from Instagram and Twitter...
Spain launches ‘all bodies are beach bodies’ campaign
Launched by the Spanish government’s equality ministry, the campaign slogan reads ‘the summer is ours too’ and features women of varied sizes and skin tones sitting seaside. The body positivity movement has exploded on social media over the last decade, influencing millions and reshaping decisions made in major fashion shows...
Could outdoor swimming benefit our mental health?
Scientists in the UK have launched a study examining how immersion in cold, open water could work as an alternative option to medication for people with depression. If you’ve even a rudimentary understanding of mental health, likelihood is you’re familiar to the concept of going for walks to improve...
When will we finally close the door on toxic body trends?
While the body positivity movement has never been stronger, an almost overnight rejection of the BBL trend signals that we haven’t completely let go of ever-changing standards for women’s bodies. Few things change faster than society’s view of the ideal woman’s body type, and despite ‘body trends’ being highly problematic,...
Study says drinking lager could promote gut health in men
According to new research, men who drink one lager a day – alcoholic or not – have more diverse gut microbes. Great news, as good gut health is known to prevent several chronic diseases. The benefits and dangers of alcohol have been long debated in medical science, but that’s hardly stopped it from being widely consumed across the world. It’s estimated that 2 billion people consume alcohol on a regular...
Opinion – the pandemic has dampened our zeal for life
Those of us who somehow avoided falling victim to the mental health crisis induced by years of on-off isolation have found ourselves emotionally coasting, a defence mechanism we developed to protect us from becoming overwhelmed that’s resulted in us feeling very little. In the aftermath of Covid and the mental health crisis it unsurprisingly induced, those of us still scrambling to pick up the pieces and make sense of it...
How reading can improve our mental health
Warmer weather and longer evenings are finally here. A welcome respite from endless winter days, summer is often seen as a chance to get outside and focus on our mental health. And while it may not involve much physical activity, reading a book in the sun may be just the brain food you need. With the change in the seasons comes a change in priorities. Today this is largely driven by...
How tech is helping people with ‘normative discontent’
New research shows that unreliable body image perception is far more pervasive than initially assumed. Fortunately, state of the art digital therapy to tackle this is in the works. If you criticise your appearance every time you see your reflection – even in the smallest way – or feel constant unhappiness whenever glancing in the mirror, chances are you’re experiencing ‘normative discontent.’ The phrase, which was originally coined in the...
