Hi Guys.
As this is a creative writing section of the forum. I'd like to share some good news about a young girl who has had some recent success in creative writing.
Alana Turnbull, a 14-year-old student from Paisley has been named the winner of The Priory Group’s national literary competition.
The Ryan McKay prize encourages young people to write a non-fiction essay highlighting mental and physical health issues among young people and in particular eating disorders.
Alana’s essay, written around this year’s theme ‘In Pursuit of Happiness’, caught the judges eye due to her open and honest depiction of the way media can be extremely influential on how young people view themselves.
After drawing on her own experiences as inspiration for her essay, Alana wrote an emotive piece highlighting pressures the media put on young people to ‘have it all’. Alana describes how people are pigeon-holed by the media, depending on what they look like.
She wrote ‘A ‘perfect’ physical appearance, no matter how you may disagree is forced upon everyone every day of our lives. We are made to compare ourselves to airbrushed models, sporting unnatural and unhealthy bodies which we’re told is ‘perfect’.’
She continued with, ‘You’re made to feel ashamed of a normal figure and told Happiness = Appearance. We’re pleasing not ourselves but others. Desperately trying to fit in with society. Our mental health however is taking the brunt of this and things become serious.’
The Priory Ryan McKay prize is awarded each year to a young person aged between 13 and 18 who submits the best non-fiction composition on a set topic related to mental and physical health.
Ryan McKay was successfully treated at the Priory Hospital Glasgow for an eating disorder but tragically died in a car accident in August 2007. His parents, who live in Buckie a small town between Aberdeen and Inverness, decided to honour his memory by working with the Priory Group to raise awareness of positive mental and physical health among young people, who are most at risk of eating disorders.
Priory specialist units treat all stages of eating disorders, including patients who are severely underweight and who might need specialist feeding. Priory consultants and therapists have provided thousands of eating disordered patients with the insight and courage they need to change, to maintain healthy bodies and relationships with food and to lead positive, fulfilled lives.
Alana, said: “I really enjoy writing and I am very interested in journalism. I feel very strongly about the way the media, as a whole, has a negative effect on young people and this fitted perfectly for this year’s essay title. Media outlets have to take some responsibility for the problems today’s youth face, especially the dangers of body image.
“I am overwhelmed that I have won the competition. I really enjoy writing so to be recognised for this essay is wonderful.”
Marco Bannerman, Hospital Director at the Priory Group said: “Alana’s informative and personal essay was outstanding; she really adhered to this year’s title of ‘In Pursuit of Happiness’ and backed up her theories really well.
“This is a wonderful way to remember Ryan, who received treatment in The Priory, and we are grateful to his parents for their support.”
Robert McKay, Ryan’s father said, “This academic prize is a very fitting way to remember our son Ryan, to help other young people who may be suffering with an eating disorder in the same way Ryan did.
“Drawing on her experiences, Alana has produced an emotive piece, which was wonderfully written and she fully deserves to win, she and her family should be very proud.”
The Priory Hospital Glasgow is committed to delivering the highest standards of care and to making patients stay as beneficial and as comfortable as possible. The hospital has nearly 20 years experience of caring for patients with a wide range of mental health issues including but not limited to, stress, depression, anxiety, all forms of addictions especially drug & alcohol addiction and all forms of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Our highly experienced and qualified team includes consultant psychiatrists, CBT therapists, person centered therapists, dieticians and specialist nurses.
The hospital also has its own ward doctors who are on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that patients always safe and receiving the most clinically appropriate care.
Keep an eye out on this sectio of the forum as the competition is to be launched again very soon.
As this is a creative writing section of the forum. I'd like to share some good news about a young girl who has had some recent success in creative writing.
Alana Turnbull, a 14-year-old student from Paisley has been named the winner of The Priory Group’s national literary competition.
The Ryan McKay prize encourages young people to write a non-fiction essay highlighting mental and physical health issues among young people and in particular eating disorders.
Alana’s essay, written around this year’s theme ‘In Pursuit of Happiness’, caught the judges eye due to her open and honest depiction of the way media can be extremely influential on how young people view themselves.
After drawing on her own experiences as inspiration for her essay, Alana wrote an emotive piece highlighting pressures the media put on young people to ‘have it all’. Alana describes how people are pigeon-holed by the media, depending on what they look like.
She wrote ‘A ‘perfect’ physical appearance, no matter how you may disagree is forced upon everyone every day of our lives. We are made to compare ourselves to airbrushed models, sporting unnatural and unhealthy bodies which we’re told is ‘perfect’.’
She continued with, ‘You’re made to feel ashamed of a normal figure and told Happiness = Appearance. We’re pleasing not ourselves but others. Desperately trying to fit in with society. Our mental health however is taking the brunt of this and things become serious.’
The Priory Ryan McKay prize is awarded each year to a young person aged between 13 and 18 who submits the best non-fiction composition on a set topic related to mental and physical health.
Ryan McKay was successfully treated at the Priory Hospital Glasgow for an eating disorder but tragically died in a car accident in August 2007. His parents, who live in Buckie a small town between Aberdeen and Inverness, decided to honour his memory by working with the Priory Group to raise awareness of positive mental and physical health among young people, who are most at risk of eating disorders.
Priory specialist units treat all stages of eating disorders, including patients who are severely underweight and who might need specialist feeding. Priory consultants and therapists have provided thousands of eating disordered patients with the insight and courage they need to change, to maintain healthy bodies and relationships with food and to lead positive, fulfilled lives.
Alana, said: “I really enjoy writing and I am very interested in journalism. I feel very strongly about the way the media, as a whole, has a negative effect on young people and this fitted perfectly for this year’s essay title. Media outlets have to take some responsibility for the problems today’s youth face, especially the dangers of body image.
“I am overwhelmed that I have won the competition. I really enjoy writing so to be recognised for this essay is wonderful.”
Marco Bannerman, Hospital Director at the Priory Group said: “Alana’s informative and personal essay was outstanding; she really adhered to this year’s title of ‘In Pursuit of Happiness’ and backed up her theories really well.
“This is a wonderful way to remember Ryan, who received treatment in The Priory, and we are grateful to his parents for their support.”
Robert McKay, Ryan’s father said, “This academic prize is a very fitting way to remember our son Ryan, to help other young people who may be suffering with an eating disorder in the same way Ryan did.
“Drawing on her experiences, Alana has produced an emotive piece, which was wonderfully written and she fully deserves to win, she and her family should be very proud.”
The Priory Hospital Glasgow is committed to delivering the highest standards of care and to making patients stay as beneficial and as comfortable as possible. The hospital has nearly 20 years experience of caring for patients with a wide range of mental health issues including but not limited to, stress, depression, anxiety, all forms of addictions especially drug & alcohol addiction and all forms of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Our highly experienced and qualified team includes consultant psychiatrists, CBT therapists, person centered therapists, dieticians and specialist nurses.
The hospital also has its own ward doctors who are on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that patients always safe and receiving the most clinically appropriate care.
Keep an eye out on this sectio of the forum as the competition is to be launched again very soon.