HOW CAN THE SELF-HELP GUIDEBOOK COMBINED WITH PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS HELP PEOPLE WITH EATING DISORDERS (15-35) IN CHINA ESTABLISH HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WITHIN THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT?

My fourth intervention is a self-help guidebook. This guidebook focuses on people who have an eating disorder. This zine is currently in the process of being revised with expert input. Qinwen Zhang founded the nonprofit eating disorder organisation “ED HEALER” in China. She will be the expert for this part.  We decided to promote the guidebook at Wellington College International Shanghai’s Thanksgiving event on 23rd Nov.

Official website of Wellington College International Shanghai: https://shanghai.wellingtoncollege.cn/

Final vision of the zine

Further Plan

In future, I will keep cooperating with ED HEALER. So far, I have confirmed I’ll join the Wellington College International Shanghai Project as my fourth intervention. And I will join the Shanghai Mental Health Center Project, the Shanghai University of Political and Law Project and the University of Toronto Project.

My fourth intervention cooperates with the Chinese nonprofit organisation- ED HEALER. The fonder Qinwen Zhan added my guidebook as a part of the Thanksgiving Day event in the Wellington College International Shanghai Project. It was settled down on 22nd Nov., started on 23rd Nov, and continued until 30th Nov. According to Qinwen, the school students have hidden diet issues because of social aesthetics and mental stress. Through this event, the school hopes to promote a healthy lifestyle and a normal awareness of aesthetics. The target audience’s ages around 15-18 (student) 30-45 (their parents).

Event Posters design by me

22nd Nov Settled Down.

On this day, Qinwen and the ED HEALER team brought the materials to the school. They put a mirror in the school library. And stuck the notes with “negative standards ” on the mirror, such as “straight legs”, “skinny legs” and “pale skin”. They also had post-it notes, markers, and large bins. It was used to interact with the students. Apart from that, my self-help guidebooks have been exhibited on the platform in front of the mirror. For students to take it home.

First day

When the event started, this installation quickly attracted the attention of students. Everyone stops in front of the mirror, tears off the old “negative standards”, throws them in the rubbish bin, and writes new “positive messages”. The mirrors were covered with “positive messages” in just one day. Most of the guidebooks were taken by students. This phenomenon also caught the attention of the teachers. For the guidebook, according to feedback by Qinwen, they love the warm words and illustrations in the book, and they feel healed by reading it. And sharing thoughts within the family.

The following week

Over the following week, the installation and booklet attracted a large crowd of students, both male and female. They joined in the activities and wrote down their thoughts. The school was pleased with the event.