Empowering women to take charge of their health
What barriers is the Live Life Whole Project striving to improve?
The Live Life Whole Project targets some of the most pressing health Slot issues facing girls and women.
The program has a strong focus on supporting the prevention, early detection, and timely intervention of eating disorders, gut health conditions, malnutrition, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S), breast health, menstrual and fertility health, mental health and healthy relationships.
The program is delivered in schools, sporting clubs, community centres, or from home using their online delivery model.
The program includes six core modules, each one aligned with the physiological and psychological stages of growth proposed by psychologist Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs.
“Our approach is unique in that it marries the patient and practitioner experience while looking at young girls’ overall wellbeing,” said Dickinson.
“We teach them how to use the resources available and ask for what they need as well as provide education which they can implement themselves.”
Life Live Whole aims to support, empower, and destigmatise women’s health issues, not only for those who take part, but their friends, family members, teachers, and the broader community.
Dickinson encourages speaking up and asking questions about emerging health issues, free from the burden of shame or embarrassment that too often surrounds women’s health.
She believes an important starting point is spending the time to find a supportive, knowledgeable, and compatible general practitioner.
“A trusted GP is the gateway to the healthcare system,” she explained.
“They look after your overall health and refer you to any health specialist needed.”
She likens finding the right health practitioner to shoe shopping; squeezing into something that isn’t the right fit may feel easier in the short term, but in the long run, will only cause you more pain and suffering.
“Health and the healthcare system is a journey, so do not be disheartened if the first person you see isn’t for you. When it comes to women’s health, the menstrual cycle, breast health, and all things female, you can assist doctors by getting to know your body.”
Strategies include tracking your menstrual cycle to get an understanding of your unique ‘normal’ and noting when things change. You could also monitor your response to certain types of exercise, food groups, and your relationships, as long as this doesn’t feel overly onerous or lead to obsessively tracking every moment of your day.
As well-intentioned and educated as most health professionals are, you are the only one who knows what it’s like to live in your body. Programs like Live Life Whole exist to support women and girls to feel confident in their own expertise of their health needs and remind them of how important, worthwhile, and deserving they are to live a life that feels rewarding, healthy, and vibrant.
Advocating for your own health needs is an act of bravery and power in a world that so often encourages women to be quiet and accept whatever they’re given.
Speaking up will not only change your own life, but it will also have a flow-on effect and inspire others around you and future generations to take charge of their wellbeing and their lives.
To learn more about the Live Life Whole Project, subscribe to their mailing list via their website or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for updates on course dates and events.
