Seeking Support

Many people are happy with the way they look, but almost everyone has at least one aspect of their physical appearance that they’re not so keen on. Sometimes these anxieties can have an impact on their mental health and well-being.

If you or anyone you know is feeling anxious or distressed about anything related to appearance, and this is affecting day-to-day life in a negative way, it may be worth getting some help. There is plenty of help and support available. You can get information from the organisations listed below, or talk to your GP who can advise you on finding the help you need.

For a list of support organisatons that provide conditon-specific support and informaton, please go to the CAR webpage: www1.uwe.ac.uk/hls/research/appearanceresearch/aboutus/faqs/sourcesofsupport.aspx

Sources of Support

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised during ‘Everybody’s Different: The Appearance Game’, the following links are a good source of support for anyone seeking confidential help and advice:

NHS Choices (nhs.uk) - A NHS resource featuring lots of useful informaton on a wide variety of conditons.

Changing Faces (changingfaces.org.uk) - or 0300 012 0275 A UK charity which supports anyone with a disfigurement.

The Katie Piper Foundation (katiepiperfoundation.org.uk) - Helps people learn to overcome the psychological barriers of living with disfigurement and concentrate on rebuilding their lives.

The Dove Self-Esteem Project (dove.com/uk) - For evidence-based resources for teachers, parents and youth leaders on how to support young people to have positive body image.

BEAT: The Eating Disorders Association (b-eat.co.uk) - or 0808 801 0677 The leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families.

Child Line (childline.org.uk) - or 0800 1111 Offers support and advice on a whole range of issues that children and young people face.

Mind (mind.org.uk) - 0300 123 3393 The leading mental health charity for England and Wales.

Anti-bullying Network (antibullying.net) - Provides advice for young people who are being bullied.