Sharp rise in number of children in England seeking help for eating disorders
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Covid means more young people struggling to access help, as expert warns illness ‘thrives in isolation’.
By Sarah Marsh
A doubling of urgent referrals for children with eating disorders combined with a squeeze on services caused by the pandemic has led to an increase in waiting times, with some patients sent hundreds of miles to obtain help, psychiatrists have said.
A staggering one in five women in England may have an eating disorder, according to the NHS Health Survey for England. The figures for 2019 are far higher than those in a comparable survey in 2007.
The number of young people seeking emergency support in the community for anorexia and bulimia reached an all-time high, as mental health practitioners say eating disorders thrive in the isolation brought on by coronavirus. However, available treatment has been further reduced, as most day services are either closed or run with hugely reduced numbers. A leading psychiatrist said the situation was leading to avoidable deaths.
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