Mental Health Week 2026
April 27th to May 1st is TU Dublin SU’s Mental Health Week, including Eating Disorder Awareness. AMLÉ, the National Union for Students in Ireland, will be on campus to meet with students and chat about mental health ahead of the upcoming exam period.
Blanchardstown – Croi Building, Tuesday 28th April, 12pm-2pm
Grangegorman – Central Quad Foyer, Wednesday 29th April, 12pm-2pm
Tallaght – Main Building Foyer, Thursday 30th April, 12pm- 2pm
Eating Disorder Awareness 2026 - Why is being visibly underweight celebrated?
It is quite clear, unfortunately, that being aggressively underweight is back in style due to the promotion of weight-loss drugs (where there are no longevity studies to ensure there aren’t future long-lasting effects), constant monitoring of calories, and the promotion of an active lifestyle. Although living in a healthy body and leading a healthy lifestyle is essential for good health and confidence, this trend seems to be following a “one size fits all” formula, which will lead to the promotion of eating disorders.
Looksmaxing
A piece from the BBC titled “Sculpting Jaws, giving scores: Inside the world of the looksmaxxing,” states that. Text (slide 2): looksmaxxing targets insecure or impressionable boys and men and pressures unhealthy methods to improve one’s appearance, which includes unhealthy eating habits. This feeds into the mental element, which shows through the obsession with either bulking up in unrealistically short periods or becoming visibly lean, again in unrealistically short periods. These eating habits range from the intake of unprescribed supplements in addition to over-exercising.”
SkinnyTok
According to a speaker in the article “Skinnytok came for me,” - “I know the advice I’m getting from these women is not healthy,” another friend said, but “everything I want is on the other side of being skinny, and these women are going to help me get there,” which proves that people’s need to fit an unhealthy societal standard has lead them to seek destructive advice from people who share such common views.
Quick catchphrases that are promoted in “Skinnytok”, such as “why get a treat after a difficult task, you’re not a dog,” or “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” can trigger dangerous eating disorders, as it is very easy to misuse such advice. This is why it is important to filter your FYP page on social media to ensure you create a safe and non-triggering space. This can be done by clicking “not interested” when such videos pop up on the FYP page.
Eating disorders as it pertains to exam stress
Exams are generally stressful for everyone, no matter how prepared one may be. This stress can unconsciously lead one to practice unsustainable and unhealthy eating habits. This can go both ways, be it overeating in the form of “comfort food,” or undereating due to having an immensely reduced appetite from lack of sleep and mental over-occupation from studying and stressing. Articles like “American Psychological Association (APA), “Stress and Eating Behaviours,” depict the definition and methods to help control such habits.
Supportive Resources
Bodywhys | Understanding Eating Disorders
What's in the media?
Sculpting jaws, giving scores: Inside the world of looksmaxxing
When SkinnyTok Came for Me - The Atlantic
Serena Williams joins Ro to normalize GLP-1 medications
How Stress Effects Eating Habits
‘SkinnyTok’ Influencers Have Taken Over Health and Wellness Culture—and It’s More TOXIC Than Ever - ‘SkinnyTok’ Influencers Have Taken Over Health and Wellness Culture—and It’s More TOXIC Than Ever
Teens using Ozempic and other weight loss injections alarmingly on the rise | 60 Minutes Australia - (133) Teens using Ozempic and other weight loss injections alarmingly on the rise | 60 Minutes Australia - YouTube