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Just Talk

Real Bodies in Herts

 

Real Bodies in Herts

Just Talk want Hertfordshire’s young people to recognise that we all have different bodies – and that’s okay!

 ‘Real Bodies in Herts’ is a positive body image campaign featuring real young people from Hertfordshire speaking about their own views and experiences around body image.

Check out the useful resources below and right, to see how you can help boost your mental health, emotional wellbeing and body image. You can pick up useful self-help tools, top tips on navigating the world of social media and information on where to go if you’re struggling with your body image.

Make sure you’re following @JustTalkHerts on Instagram, Facebook and X (twitter) and please help us spread the word by sharing our posts!

 

Information:

Some of our Real Bodies in Herts resources on this page mention a 'body image helpline' from First Steps ED, which is no longer in use.

For free advice and early help around body image or disordered eating for children and young people (ages 5–18) in Hertfordshire, please contact First Steps ED directly:

 

Resources and activities for schools/youth groups, children and young people

School resources/teaching about body image 

Activities for primary school age  

Activities for secondary school age 

Using social media 

Setting up a body image group in school 

Posters and communications toolkit

Promoting the Real Bodies In Herts Campaign in your school / setting 

Resources for parents/carers and professionals
  • Parent and Carer Self-Guided Resource - use code FSEDHERTS for a free self-help guide from First Steps ED for parents and carers.
  • Body Positive aims to help children and young people build a positive relationship between food and their bodies. It has separate modules for children and young people, parents/carers and health professionals and involves psychoeducation in three main areas:
    • normal eating and body image
    • fussy eating and ARFID
    • disordered eating.

 

Herts & West Essex Healthier Together website:

Advice for parents/carers:

  • ARFID animations (YouTube)
  • Watch the short animations below about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). They can help with understanding the signs and symptoms of ARFID and where to go for advice and help for children and young people in Hertfordshire who are struggling with what they are able to eat.
  • Introduction (1min 34secs)
  • ARFID - An introduction. - YouTube
  • Getting Advice and Help (2min 2secs) 
  • ARFID - Getting advice and help. - YouTube

 

Need some more advice and help?

 

First Steps ED printed materials:

Need free help about body image and or disordered eating difficulties?

Check out the First Steps ED website: www.firststepsed.co.uk

A big thank you!

All ‘Real Bodies in Herts’ campaign resources have been co-produced with young people from across Hertfordshire. Just Talk wants to extend a thank you to the Stevenage secondary schools and North Herts College that have worked with the Public Health team so closely on this, as well as our partners; BeeZee Bodies, Services for Young People, Stevenage FC and Stevenage Young People’s Healthy Hub.