COMMENT: It feels like a tipping point has been reached in the age of the celebrity
It's all too easy for people hiding behind the anonymity of social media to be hurtful in a way they never would be if they were face to face with the target of their vitriol.
Meanwhile the glossy showbiz gossip magazines can perpetuate that negativity and publish the kind of body-shaming articles and photographs that can leave the subject feeling targeted and vulnerable.
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Hide AdBut, as we report on pages 8 and 9 today, there seems to be a growing backlash against this sort of 'build them up and then knock them down' culture.
While it's so sad that it took the death of TV presenter Caroline Flack to bring about change, it feels like a tipping point has been reached.
The hashtag #BeKind has been trending on Twitter since news broke that she had taken her own life last month. People feel that enough is enough.
The charity Havant and East Hampshire Mind is working to help keep people mentally safe online and has shared tips including considering the audience you are posting to, the different views people have and making time to step away from devices.
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Hide AdWe also report today how hairdressers and beauty salons have reacted by ditching the gossip magazines that clients used to flick through. In their place are softer lifestyle features or books.
Meanwhile Gosport barbershop The Gentry is hosting a Men's Minds Matter event next month. Staff have even undergone mental health training so that they can spot warning signs if customers are struggling.
We applaud them for taking this issue seriously and all businesses that have recognised the need for both positivity and understanding.
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