Eating Disorder Awareness Week
Eating Disorder Awareness Week starts this February 27th. No one should face an eating disorder alone, that's why Beat, the UK's Eating Disorder charity has launched it's campaign to get us talking.
Eating Disorder Week, founded by charity Beat is 27th of February to the 5th of March, a week to discover resources and support that is out there for people in need.
Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity. Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, their mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that ruin and, too often, take lives. Check out the Beat website here.
“Eating disorders awareness week is all about expanding our understanding of eating problems, raising the profile of eating disorders as an important subject, and challenging any stereotypes about who they might happen to be. Starting open and non-judgemental conversations about eating disorders may also help people to open up about their own experiences without stigma or shame.” - James Downs is a speaker and campaigner, as well as an MQ ambassador.
What Is An Eating Disorder?
“Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses affecting people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. People with eating disorders use disordered eating behaviour as a way to cope with difficult situations or feelings. This behaviour can include limiting the amount of food eaten, eating very large quantities of food at once, getting rid of the food eaten through unhealthy means (e.g. making themselves sick, misusing laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise), or a combination of these behaviours.” - Beat
For more information on each specific type of eating disorder visit Beat
Discover Mental Health First Aid England’s Action Plan for Eating Disorders:
Assess approach - Do you know the first signs?
Listen - engage in a conversation about how they are feeling and listen to their perspective
Give support and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage other supports
Assess: Know the first signs of someone struggling with an eating disorder:
Listen
Firstly, convey that you are here to listen and support them. Try not to interpret what their eating problem means without listening to them first. This could add to their feelings of helplessness. It could also make them less able to share their difficult emotions and seek support.
Try not to get angry or frustrated. They might already feel guilty about how their behaviour is affecting you. Try to be as understanding and patient as you can.
Give Support and Information
When supporting someone struggling with an eating disorder, don't make assumptions. Avoid common assumptions such as:
- eating problems are mainly about body image
- you can tell what eating problems someone has from their appearance
- young women are the only group who experience eating problems.
Think men don’t get eating disorders? Think again. Watch Beat’s campaign over on Youtube. Check out Beat’s Men’s online support group, Osprey.
Encourage Appropriate Professional Support
Check out these support resources
- Beat's Support Page
- Kooth (online anonymous support)
- GP support can connect you to CAMHS, CHEDS or other services via the NHS.
Encourage Other Healthy Behaviours and Support
Encourage the person to surround themselves with people and places that are supportive of their wellbeing. One example is making sure that the media that the person is being fed on social media is not detrimental to their mental health. Offer ways they can check they are not being negatively influenced such as social media app settings.
Check out Enigma Wellness’ guide to curating your social media accounts over on Instagram:
Further Resources
Discover Beat ambassador Kel O'Neill’s online service Recovery Champion
The Eating Disorder Recovery Companion was created as a way of providing resources for people with a suspected or diagnosed eating disorder, who are stuck on a waiting list for specialist help and/or therapy. However, you might also find the resources helpful if you have an ED but are struggling to get a referral, for example, if you do not meet referral criteria, or if you are currently accessing treatment or therapy but feel some additional resources would be useful for you.
