Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2022

This year’s theme focuses on ensuring there is correct and adequate training on eating disorders available to health professionals. BEAT, the national eating disorder charity, are campaigning for all UK medical schools to introduce proper training.

To find out how you can get involved, visit the BEAT website >>

A Focus on Lived Experience of Disordered Eating

This #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek2022, ELFT aims to raise awareness of eating disorders through the voices of our local service users, carers and staff who share their personal insights through writing and art to highlight their lived experience.

Find the full collection below:

'Why I Only Have One 2022 Resolution' by Hannah, Tower Hamlets

This is a personal lived experience story from a staff member on working towards recovery

Building through a hole, taken whilst an inpatient in 2014 receiving treatment for anorexia.

‘Anorexia - An Illness of Contradictions’ by Katharine Lazenby

A personal lived experience piece from Katharine, people participation worker for disordered eating, on anorexia.

Painting of Erodium glandulosum, also known as Black Eyed Heronsbill, one of the hardiest Heronsbill species.

‘A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words’ by Anonymous

An Anonymous Painting & A Personal Lived Experience Story on Disordered Eating

‘Carer to Carer: Tips and Advice’ by Clare, Tower Hamlets

A piece of writing on tips and advice from a parent to a twenty-one year old daughter who is in recovery from anorexia.

‘Paper’ by Sarah, Hackney

A poem written by Sarah, a service user in Hackney, with an accompanying image (image provided by Katharine Lazenby) on disordered eating.

'The Chains That Bind' by Paul, Tower Hamlets

A personal lived experience story by Paul, a service user in Tower Hamlets on disordered eating

‘One Step at A Time’ by Sarah, Tower Hamlets

A short, personal, lived experience piece with accompanying photography on disordered eating.

‘Overcoming a Dominant Narrative’ by Imtaz Khaliq, Tower Hamlets Recovery College

A personal lived experience piece on disordered eating.

‘To the Parent of A Child with an Eating Disorder’ by A Carer, Newham

A personal letter written by a carer in Newham on disordered eating.

An Interview with Sally on Binge Eating Disorder

Watch an interview with Sally, a staff member in the Trust open up about her own personal, lived experience of Binge Eating Disorer (BED)

‘Things I want To Say to Other Carers of Kids with Eating Disorders’ by a Carer, Tower Hamlets

A message to carers and healthcare professionals on disordered eating.

Contributions from ELFT Services and Staff

‘Eating Distress Support Under the Transformation Programme’ by Dr Brian Sreenan

This piece of writing touches on aspects of disordered eating related work and support that has recently been developed under the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme.

‘Disordered Eating Dietetic Support’ by Collette West

This piece of writing touches on aspects of disordered eating related work and support that has recently been developed. The focus of this piece on the disordered eating pathway which aims to support people who are experiencing patterns of disordered eating.

An Interview with Sarah Fuller on Disordered Eating (Talk Radio)

Visit the TalkRadio Website to listen to the full interview >>

This interview brings awareness to Eating Disorders, something which is far more common than people may realise, and helps to describe families and friends on how to support people with an ED.

Your Voice Matters: People participation for people who experience disordered eating by Katharine Lazenby

Find out how you can become part of the conversation on how we can improve support for people struggling with disordered eating.

Disordered Eating Pathway - Psychoeducation

A piece on the support provided by the disordered eating team at ELFT

The Power of Yoga for Disordered Eating by ReConnect Yoga and B&L Eating Disorder Service

Reconnect Yoga have constructed and are offering an 8 week yoga course in collaboration with the Bedfordshire and Luton Eating Disorder Service

Help & Support for an Eating Disorder

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in the collection of pieces and you’d like to talk to someone, please call the BEAT helpline on 0808 801 0677.

You can also find out more information about disordered eating and sources of support at the BEAT website: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

If you are struggling with disordered eating, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local GP or IAPT service who can help you with the first step on your recovery journey.

Other Ways You Can Get Involved

A Healthy London Partnership Communications Toolkit >>