Body Image

Submitted by kahoople on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 17:11

the problem:

The mental health of our children and youth is an incredibly important issue in today’s society. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for adolescents and the third leading cause of death for those slightly younger than adolescents. The CDC reports that 14% of youth between 9th and 12th grade have thought about suicide, and 11% have actually made a specific plan for committing the act.* Mental health concerns are particularly high for more marginalized populations, as many of these individuals are in high risk environments. For example, in a nationally representative survey of a youth in an inner city environment, 8% reported a lifetime prevalence of sexual assault, 17% reported experiencing physical assault, and 39% reported witnessing violence.** Exposure to trauma of this kind is clearly linked to a higher preponderance of behavioral and mental health difficulties in youth. However, these same mental health issues continue to be heavily stigmatized by our culture. This prevents many youth from coming forward with their difficulties, and not enough youth are aware of the fact that there are people available to help them. Furthermore, few youth realize how common it actually is to struggle with these kinds of issues. These are problems I want to address – I want to make children and youth in my community, particularly those in inner city New York, realize that they are not alone in struggling with these issues, and that there is help out there.
*www.astorservices.org/finding-out-teen-suicide-prevention.php
**www.nctsn.org

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why it's important:

This cause is incredibly important to me, for a variety of reasons. I’ve worked intimately with children and youth in a variety of settings, from being a camp counselor to a trusted nanny, and I know how important and wonderful this population is. I also am still a youth myself – at 22 I don’t think I quite count as a full-fledged grown up yet! The idea of those younger than me and like me struggling with mental health issues in silence is terrible, and is something I want to battle against. This is a fight I am already fighting in many ways, working as a research aide at Astor Services for Children and Families, based in Rhinebeck, NY, trying to find out more about the problems that youth struggle with and the best ways to solve them. Astor is a not-for-profit behavioral health agency that provides services to children of all ages in a variety of settings, ranging from community health programs to residential treatment. We serve children throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley region and the Bronx. Through Astor, I’d like to start spreading mental health awareness by speaking at schools and other youth-serving organizations. I’d like to spread mental health awareness by disseminating both current mental health facts and statistics and the stories of the clients we currently serve at Astor, written by the clients themselves. If possible, I’d like to even bring current Astor clients to speak to other children and youth about their experiences and struggles with mental health. It has been shown that both hearing about other’s struggles, as well as sharing one’s own struggles, can help children and youth persevere and endure difficult life circumstances.* Spreading mental health awareness will also help to dispel stigma. I’d also like to include in these talks information on how to go about receiving mental health services, empowering those that need help to get the process of getting help going. I believe that the sharing of children and youth’s stories, as well as the spreading of other information related to mental health awareness, will have a profound impact on both the youth we already serve at Astor and those in the community that still need our help.
* On Playing a Poor Hand Well, by Mark Katz

the plan of action:

In order to spread mental health awareness, I’d like to start visiting schools and other organizations that serve children and youth, starting with the Bronx and Mid-Hudson Valley, and beyond if possible. I’d like to bring with me dissemination materials, like brochures filled with facts on mental health and the stories of current clients. Hopefully, I will also be able to bring along with me some support staff to participate in these talks as well. I’d also like to, if possible, bring clients with me on these talks to share their stories – this would require support staff to ensure the well-being of youth that accompany me on these trips. I’d also like to bring with me information on how to start receiving mental health services, and for each site I go to, be prepared with information specific to mental health services in that site’s area. Ideally, I’d like to do these talks at least twice a month for a year or longer, coming into contact with as many children and youth as possible. By accomplishing these goals, I feel that my project will have a deep impact on everyone I reach, and that this impact will disperse outwards as those I am able to talk to share what they have learned with others.

how you can get involved:

Anyone can help with this project. Simply talking about mental health issues in a knowledgeable and caring way helps dispel stigma, and helps increase the chance that children and youth that need help will seek it. Anyone that is present at these information sessions I hope to hold will then also be able to spread this information. They say knowledge is power, and in the case of mental health awareness, that is certainly true. I want to spread that power!

project updates:

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If your friends are spending too much time in front of the mirror, it's time for an intervention. Obsessing about one's appearance can take up more time than waiting for Mom to write a coherent text message. Dish out these arguments for spending less time on outer beauty and more time on inner growth:

Submitted by princessciaran on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 22:40

the problem:

According to the Dove Self Esteem Campaign, only 4% of women in the world consider themselves beautiful. Most people are under the impression that self esteem problems are mostly in teens, but studies beg to differ. 50% of girls age 9 claim to be on a diet, while 80% ages 10 - 12 claim to be on a diet as well. Shimmer Sparkle Shine aims to raise girls self esteem who are 8 - 12.

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why it's important:

Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine was a phrase I came up with in Middle School to keep my head up high when I was bullied, and has stuck with me ever since. I know how much pain I faced from being teased, and I want it to be my life goal to help girls ages 8 - 12 feel happy with who they are.

the plan of action:

In the past I have worked with a girl one on one, where I would spend a girls day having casual conversation with them on how to feel better. Then the local Fantastic Sams would style their hair, then I would take them out for a photo shoot. Afterwards they would get a copy of their pictures, and their favorite in a frame, along with a self esteem booklet to do with their mom. I still plan on doing this, but on a larger scale. I am holding my first event with the YMCA with 20 girls in a whole day of fun and self esteem boosting. Myself along with volunteers will do an intro on what we find truly beautiful, then lead into discussions and real beautiful people and role models. Then they will decorate their "Boost Boo" which is a book they can put pictures, quotes, ect. into for when they are feeling down. After that everyone will have lunch. Then each teenage volunteer will have 1 to 2 girls to hang out with and do their hair, then they will have a mini photo shoot. After that the volunteers will lead an activity while myself and a partner print their best picture for them to leave with along with their goodie bags.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by simply talking to younger girls, and hanging out with them for a girls day. Younger girls always look up to teenagers.

project updates:

Submitted by Chy on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 20:05

the problem:

Our club is trying to show to young men and women that the way a person look is not as important as the way they treat others and the type of personalities that they have. Like the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by it's cover", well our club is trying to prove this point by promulgating the fact that everyone is beautiful, and that body image is not the only thing that matters. And that it should not matter, unless that person is living an unhealthy lifestyle.

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why it's important:

This is important to us because there are people that we know who look at the outer package before they think about what is on the inside. Looking at a person's face, instead of caring about their feelings causes so much pain and we know those who have felt such aggravation, just as we know some of those who are judgemental.

the plan of action:

how you can get involved:

You can help by: donating money to the cause
making your opinion known about this subject
having a "lazy day" where no one dresses up and spreads the word
posting flyers around your school and other places that you think can make a difference

project updates:

Submitted by nicoleguffy on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 20:10

the problem:

I am raising money to give life-changing surgeries to children around the world born with facial birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate. I am working with Operation Smile to raise enough money for ten operations--$2400.00.

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why it's important:

I hope that by raising awareness in my community I can help spread this message. By giving smiles for smiles I want to help children learn to love their bodies and help them find their self-confidence—what may seem as insignificant as the gift of a smile can change a world.

the plan of action:

My goal is to raise money for ten operations by getting plastic surgeons, local businesses, and private donors to donate one dollar for every picture I take of a Napa High student smiling. Each dollar donated will directly go to “smiles for smiles.” The pictures I take will be made into a photo mosaic to be presented as a page in my school yearbook and an enlarged, framed copy that will be presented to administration as a part of the senior class gift.

how you can get involved:

Please visit our page and donate anything you can! Even one dollar will help change a child's life!

project updates:

11 Green Facts About The Super Bowl

Other than Thanksgiving, Americans consume the most amount of food on Super Bowl Sunday.
More than 53.5 million pounds of avocados and 28 million pounds of chips are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday. In total, over $50 million is spent on food.
In one stadium alone, past Super Bowls have generated an average of over 65 tons of trash each year.
Although footballs are called “pigskins,” they were actually made from pig bladders. Footballs are now made from cowhide, taking about 3,000 cows to make enough footballs for one NFL season.

Submitted by DBH0014 on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:51

the problem:

A Family Community is a program I am desigining to benefit every individual in our community, not only residents and locals, but the community as a whole. This includes surrounding areas and even alternate states. We aim to provide Disater education, job readiness, disater preparedness seminars, dating volience information, a place of refuge for volience over comers, a place for homeless individuals to get food, and clothing and opportunities for job search, and job placement. We want to prevent teen pregnancy, but all the same provide help to those who have already had children. We promote family stablility. We want to educate individuals on healthy eating, and living a healthy lifestyle as well. We plan to this not only by branching out and starting partneships with exsisting organizations, but by putting in hard work, and sweat ourselves as well. We plan to involve individuals that seek help in unimaginable ways.

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why it's important:

This is imporatnt to me because, I grew up in a single parent home; and felt sad and alone. I want individuals to understand that not every house hold is the same, and that it is okay to be different. I understand the importance of education, and i am seeking to futher my education. I want every individual that I encounter to understand this concept as well.

the plan of action:

*Conduct meetings with community leaders(i.e. Community pastors, non-profit organizations, mayor)
*Get Schools involved( with the job I already have I have easy access to recruiting teens, and volunteers)
*Get the community aware.....(i.e.: Facebook, local news, news paper)
*Recruit Volunteers/ Board members (i.e. Church goers)
*Set up banking account
*locate a building for headquaters (i.e.: unused city building, or church building)
* Contact local food banks set up patnerships
*start partnership with local DHR

how you can get involved:

Individuals can help by contributing non perishable items, volunteering, making donations, and participating in the program

project updates:

Submitted by livelife on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 10:50

the problem:

Young women are wrapped up in how they seem themselves i.e their body image and self esteem. Many young women are pressured by society to be skinnier, prettier and closer to an unreachable perfection.

Women in the media are depicted as gorgeous and seem to have no problems. Young women strive to be like them but it is an impossible goal since the media has created a fake image. Therefore when young women can't reach this image they become depressed and feel as though they are not good enough. This leads to lack of positive self esteem, depression, self harm, abusive relationships and sometimes suicide.

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people impacted:

300

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why it's important:

No woman should feel anything less than beautiful. As a teen I struggled with my self image and feeling less than beautiful. For a few years of my life I do not feel good enough for anything or anyone. I had many friends that went through a similar experience.

Some of my friends would harm themselves because of this basic belief that they weren't pretty enough, good enough or interesting enough. I don't want any young woman to be in that much pain ever again.

the plan of action:

I have started a e-magazine that promotes and inspires young women to understand true inner beauty, how to develop strong character and how to feel worthy by giving back and making a positive difference.

This magazine inspires young women and tells them that they are more then good enough. It fosters good self esteem and habits. From that the readers we have go on to take the world. We are also creating workshops with local speakers etc to help young women fight depression, negative self image and self harm.

Having a positive self image and feeling good about yourself can make a world of difference to your mental well being and that's what Miss Moxie is about.

how you can get involved:

You can find out more at www.missmoxieonline.com

project updates:

Submitted by elyessagianni on Sun, 01/29/2012 - 15:38

the problem:

I want to change how the world looks at women and their body. Your body is a rare piece of art and it's only one of a kind. It's an original and that's what I want people to see. That not everyone has to fit into the mold that society thinks is beautiful, because we all are beautiful in our own way.

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why it's important:

Throughout my life, I've always struggled with the way I looked. Feeling like I was always out of place because I didn't look like all the other girls. I've always felt like the outcast girl that looked ugly and that would never be as pretty. I know other people besides me feel this way. That is why I want to take a stand and create a campaign that shows women that we are fine the way we are and we don't have to change to be like everyone else.

the plan of action:

I would love to start a group in every school that notices these effects that girls are going through. And to have shows that show all sizes are beautiful. Not just one. Benefit concerts and conventions.

how you can get involved:

Create clubs at school! Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr! All places where you think people will notice.

project updates:

Submitted by college_cat on Sun, 01/29/2012 - 13:40

the problem:

A lot of females in my local area lack the resources, healthy relationships, and mentors who can educate them on how to become a sucesssful young woman. The younger females have become teen moms, alcohol/drug users, high school drop -outs and more.

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why it's important:

This is very important to me because I have personally seen and known these females who have become unsuccessful in their lives. They aren't reaching out to their dreams and goals. I am ready and willing to help!

the plan of action:

I want to create a one day action packed bootcamp focused on empowering females in my local communtiy. The day will be filled with workshops on topics such as body image, higher educations, healthy lifestyles, self - esteem/self confidence and more. The purpose of this bootcamp is not only to educate these ladies on those topics but I want to also help them build relationships and friendships with one another.

how you can get involved:

Other can help out by doing whatever it takes to make this happen!!