As teenagers living in 21st century America, we are constantly being bombarded with images of who we should be like, look like, think like, dress like, etc. But I would like to address a certain clothing company that has took mental illnesses and turned them into “high fashion.”

I’m sure all of you have heard of the store Urban Outfitters. It is a very popular clothing store that can be found in Red Bank. Two years ago, the store released a tee shirt for women that had “eat less” written in bold cursive writing along the chest. The shirt obviously addressing anorexia nervosa. After media backlash, the store fortunately took the shirt off the market.

But wait. Now fast forward to January 2014, and Urban Outfitters is re-selling the shirt, and came out with another shirt that had the word “depression” written all over.

So what’s the big deal? The problem that I see is that this overly priced store is turning serious mental issues that are very common amongst the young adults who shop there, and making them out to be something they are not. Urban Outfitters is sending the message – intentional or not – that having an eating disorder and/or depression is not a serious problem, but in fact, very fashionable.

I feel that Urban Outfitters really screwed up by telling their primary market to eat less and be depressed. I know what it is like to be both depressed and to have an eating disorder. In middle school I went through both, and trust me, they are far from being “trendy.” They eat away at you from the inside and you feel weak and helpless every single day. They bring on nothing but misery and suffering to all that have been affected, and should never in a million years be praised.

If you are having issues with an eating disorder and/or depression. Please seek help immediately.

SECOND FLOOR

http://www.2ndfloor.org/

NATIONAL EATING DISORDER ASSOCIATION

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

NEW JERSEY’S CARING AND CRISIS HOTLINE

https://www.contactwecare.org/