Warning on film images

Mental health alarm

THE boss of headspace has issued a warning about a new Netflix movie on eating disorders.

Headspace chief executive Jason Trethowan penned an open letter to parents, teachers and young people about To the Bone before its Australian release.

Mr Trethowan said images from the film, which documents a young woman’s battle with anorexia, have appeared on “thinspiration” websites that “glamorise eating disorders”.

“We have joined other Australian mental health organisations in voicing our concerns around the film’s portrayal of anorexia nervosa,” he writes.

“The film focuses on the story of a young woman’s experience with the eating disorder. While the complete film is yet to be shown in Australia, the trailer depicts confronting images of her experience with the illness.”

He said the concern was that imagery of people with eating disorders could be a trigger for at-risk adolescents or serve as a “how-to” guide.

“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,” Mr Trethowan said.

“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.”