Eating Disorder Awareness Week is running from February 25 to March 3. It is an international event which hopes to educate people about eating disorders and encourage sufferers to seek help.
Hope developed anorexia partly as a result of feeling “so out of control of my emotions”. She explained that having an eating disorder helped her “switch off from all that emotional stuff.”
She also described the country’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) as “a complete and utter minefield.”
Dump the scales
Hope is now working to remove weight criteria from diagnostic guidelines. Currently, some people are not able to access treatment unless their weight is dangerously low.
Talking from her own experience, Hope said: “If you’re not ridiculously underweight there’s actually very little support available to you.”
Her campaign Dump the scales currently has almost 70,000 signatures, and with 100,000 signatures, it will be debated in Parliament.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week is supported by the UK’s national eating disorder charity, Beat, who are working this week on breaking down stereotypes:
Stereotypes prevent people from finding help. Stand with us to demand that anyone affected by an eating disorder is supported, no matter what their diagnosis, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or background. https://t.co/wodHxdMiSA#EDAW2019 #sockittoeatingdisorders pic.twitter.com/o9zW1exVAc
— Beat (@beatED) February 25, 2019
Eating Disorder Awareness Week at Bournemouth University continues on February 27. Dr Pooky Knightsmith will be discussing ways to support young people and students with an eating disorder.
For more information about eating disorders and where to find support, visit Beat’s website here.
