SEGi College Sarawak had a discussion session on “Body Shaming and Mental Illness” on 2 March 2023, with speaker Chan Wan Xin (27) discussing the negative impact of body shaming on mental health.
According to Chan, body shaming, whether intentional or unintentional, can result in psychological symptoms such as low self-esteem, despair, and anxiety. With 17 documented occurrences of body shaming in Malaysia between 2017-2021, this issue is progressively increasing.
Chan also mentioned that body shaming can cause mental illness in various ways, including biological, psychological, and social variables, resulting in poor quality of life, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and body dysmorphia.
To counteract these negative impacts, Chan encouraged guests to seek assistance and support from reputable organisations such as the Mental Health Association of Sarawak (MHA) and Befrienders.
20 SEGi College Sarawak students attended the seminar and acquired great insight into the importance of body positivity and the negative impacts of body shaming on mental health.
Mental diseases are the largest cause of disability worldwide, according to World Health Organisation research, with depression and anxiety disorders being the most common.
As a result, addressing the issue of body shaming and its harmful influence on mental health is critical to foster a better and happier society.
