Individuals often live with much pain and anxiety , with which the eating disorder serves as a way to cope . Occupational therapists can advocate for individuals in an area where there is poor awareness and acknowledgment .
If you find yourself lacking in understanding , BEAT have some free-to-access training for healthcare professionals www . beateating disorders . org . uk / training-events / find-training / training-for-healthcare-professionals .
Listen with non-judgmental attentiveness : often eating disorders are associated with guilt and shame , but an open stance and listening ear can make a massive difference .
Be aware of where to signpost to : if you work in a mental health trust , why not find out about their referral pathway or what services they would recommend ?
Many eating disorder NHS services now offer self-referrals , which occupational therapists can signpost individuals to . There are also some great eating disorder charities out there , including First Steps ED , and Wednesday ’ s Child , with local knowledge on what support is on offer , who also accept self-referrals https :// firststepsed . co . uk or https :// wednesdayschild . co . uk .
BEAT have created a wonderful resource for anyone visiting their GP for the first time . If you ’ re supporting someone in making this step , encourage them to write down in advance their experiences so far , what they want to say , and any questions they may have . This may help to reduce some anxieties https :// beat . contentfiles . net / media / documents / gp-leaflet-website . pdf .
R
Ayton A , Ibrahim A ( 2018 ) ‘ Does UK medical education provide doctors with sufficient skills and knowledge to manage patients with eating disorders safely ?’, Postgrad Med J , 94 ( 1113 ), 374 – 380 .
Brown A , McClelland J , Boysen E , Mountford V , Glennon D , Schmidt U ( 2018 ) ‘ The FREED Project ( first episode and rapid early intervention in eating disorders ): service model , feasibility and acceptability ’, Early Interv Psychiatry , 12 ( 2 ), 250 – 257 .
Currin L , Walker G , Treasure J , Nodder J , Stone C , Yeomans M , Schmidt U ( 2007 ) ‘ The use of guidelines for dissemination of ‘ best practice ’ in primary care of patients with eating disorders ’, International Journal of Eating Disorders , 40 ( 5 ), 476 – 479 .
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2022
Join Beat ’ s Eating Disorders campaign – which takes place from 28 February to 6 March 2022 – calling for all UK medical schools and foundation programmes to introduce proper training on eating disorders . Get involved at https :// edaw . beateatingdisorders . org . uk / ways-to-get-involved /.
Hoek HW , van Hoeken D ( 2003 ) ‘ Review of the prevalence and incidence of eating disorders ’, International Journal of Eating Disorders , 34 ( 4 ), 383 – 396 .
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ( 2017 ) Eating disorders : recognition and treatment . [ NG69 ]. London : NICE .
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ( 2017 ) Ignoring the alarms : How NHS eating disorder services are failing patients . Available at www . ombudsman . org . uk / publications / ignoring-alarms-how-nhs-eating-disorderservices-are-failing-patients [ accessed 4 February 2022 ]
Rance N , Moller NP , Clarke V ( 2017 ) ‘ Eating disorders are not about food , they ’ re about life : client perspectives on anorexia nervosa treatment ’, J Health Psychol , 22 ( 5 ), 582 – 594 .
The Hearts , Minds and Genes Coalition for Eating Disorders ( 2021 ) The cost of eating disorders in the UK 2019 and 2020 . Available at www . pslhub . org / learn / patient-safety-inhealth-and-care / conditions / other-conditionsand-diseases / the-cost-of-eating-disorders-in- the-uk-2019-and-2020-24-september- 2021-r5242 / [ accessed 4 February 2022 ]
Walker S , Lloyd C ( 2011 ) ‘ Issues experienced by service users with an eating disorder : a qualitative investigation ’, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation , 18 ( 10 ), 542 – 549 .
Zipfe l , S , Giel KE , Bulik CM , Hay P , Schmidt U ( 2015 ) ‘ Anorexia nervosa : aetiology , assessment , and treatment ’, Lancet Psychiatry , 2 ( 12 ), 1099 – 111 .
Words ESTHER DARK is an occupational therapist and CAMHS practitioner in eating disorder services . She is also completing a PhD , with a special interest in eating disorders
30 OTnews February 2022