Marks 21 Years of Change

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which begins on February 22nd 2010, coincides with the 21st anniversary of the national eating disorders charity b-eat.

Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust is marking the occasion by celebrating the progress of treatments for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa over the past 21 years.

Gill Burgoyne, service line manager for Suffolk’s community eating disorders team, said: “Over the past 21 years I have seen changes in both the understanding of eating disorders and the treatments that are now available.”

During the awareness week, staff from the Trust and from Suffolk Family Carers’ mental health project – which provides support to carers of those suffering from eating disorders – will be updating their training in a technique called Motivational Enhancement Therapy,

Gill added: “By being collaborative in our approach, the community eating disorders team and Suffolk Family Carers will be working to the same model of care. This will help family carers to understand and be part of their loved one’s treatment and recovery. The approach empowers our clients to be fully involved with their treatment, including understanding and celebrating their recoveries.”

“Eating disorders are recognised more and more within the NHS in Suffolk as a very serious mental illness that people can suffer with all their lives, often with devastating physical health implications. Eating Disorders Awareness Week is a really important opportunity to continue getting this message out to the general public.”

“Improving awareness about anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is the key to helping teams like ours develop services and provide the best treatment and support for sufferers and their family carers.”

Based in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, the Suffolk community eating disorders service is for adults aged 18 and over. The team is comprised of specialist nurses, psychotherapists, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, specialist dieticians and expert medical advisers who offer a range of treatment options such as talking therapies and advice. They also provide training for other healthcare professionals.

The Trust has an eating disorder service for children and young people in Suffolk through its base at Ivry Lodge in Ipswich.

Anyone who is looking for help for themselves or for others can contact the Trust’s patient advice and liaison service on 0800 585544.

If you are a relative, child, partner, or friend who spends time looking after someone with an eating disorder then you can contact the Suffolk Family Carers helpline on 0844 225 3099.

A new Suffolk Family Carers Steering Group for eating disorders is being set up. The aim of the group is to keep Eating Disorders Services at the top of the agenda. It will use people’s experiences of eating disorders to inform the development of future services.

On February 25, there will be a talk at the eating disorders recovery group in Ipswich – “There’s two sides to every story: a personal reflection on recovery”. Admission is £3 per person to cover costs. This is an independent recovery group for sufferers, carers or family members whose lives are affected by food. Members meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at Mind in Westgate Street, Ipswich. The group has different speakers or discussions each fortnight. You don’t need to be referred to the service.

WVB-GKB