I am writing on behalf of headspace to issue a warning for parents, teachers and young people ahead of the Australian release of the new Netflix movie To the Bone.
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As the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, we have joined other Australian mental health organisations in voicing our concerns around the films portrayal of anorexia nervosa.
The film focuses on the story of a young woman experience with the eating disorder.
While the complete film is yet to be shown in Australia, the trailer depicts some confronting images of her experience with the illness.
Many images have appeared on so called “thinspiration” websites, which glamorise eating disorders.
Research has shown that graphic imagery of people with eating disorders can be a potential trigger for at-risk, young people.
The concern is about the portrayal of behaviours associated with an eating disorder – and whether this may be providing a ‘how to’ guide for adolescents who may be at risk.
The creators of the movie – and those prompted by the film to discuss the issues – must be careful about framing the conversation in a way that is safe for young people.
We do not support any representation or discussion in the media, on TV, or anywhere else, that has the potential to place young people at risk.
Any broadcast or written material dealing with eating disorders should refrain from showing strategies or tactics around living with an eating disorder.
headspace clinicians state that adolescence is a time of increased risk for the development of an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are a serious mental illness with long-term physical and psychological impacts.
They can have a significant impact on the family and friends of a person experiencing an eating disorder, as well as on the person themselves.
We need to be having the right conversation about the problem, and we need to be able to show parents, schools and young people where they can look to make this happen.
Jason Trethowan
headspace CEO