By Kerrie Jones, Founder and CEO at Orri
Over the last year we’ve met and talked to young people and their families across the UK who have or have had an eating disorder about what they think we should be doing. Just as importantly, we have been asking what we shouldn’t be doing – and up and down the country they have been really clear: “Do something!”. This was very stark message to hear. Consistently we’ve heard they need “some” or “more” support, they need “somewhere to turn”, to find “someone who understands”, or for “somewhere that takes me seriously”. We have heard really difficult and upsetting stories from people and their families about reaching out to services but not meeting the criteria for support, or indeed finding themselves facing long waits even though they know they desperately need help now. Sadly we know these experiences all too having heard them for many year from adults facing the same challenges.
So, I am writing this to share a really important development here at Orri. After 6 years of working with people who are aged 16 and over, we have opened a young person’s pathway. This will mean that we will now work with people who are aged 13 and above, offering individual therapy and psychology, dietitian led menu planning and oversight, at the table meal support and body image work with our OT team, and psychiatrist sessions with physical health management and guidance. We are also introducing a Young Persons Support group and Carers and Loved ones Support Group for parents of teens. Whilst we are pleased to be able to share this news, it is always bittersweet as we hold the reality that the reason we are doing this is because there are so many young people desperately seeking this help and feeling at a loss as to where they can go to get this.
The ongoing issues in accessing treatment for young people has been highlighted recently in the newly published All Party Parliamentary Report: ‘The Right to Health. People with Eating Disorders are being failed’ . It highlights the need for support for people of at all ages which are seeking eating disorder diagnosis or treatment, and outlines the issues being faced for young people and the urgency of this with recent research showing that by 2023 12.5% of 17- to 19-year-olds had an eating disorder. 75% of young women and 50% of young men aged 16–25 reported symptoms. It went on to explain that an estimated 360,000 children and young people (7.5%) are affected by an eating disorder. However, only 55,000 were identified by GPs in 2020, and just 19,500 accessed NHS specialist services in 2022–23, the vast majority being females with anorexia nervosa. The significant gap between prevalence and diagnosis suggests many children and young people, particularly those with less visible or higher-weight disorders or who come from marginalised backgrounds, remain undiagnosed and untreated.
So, we really hope that the launch of the Young Person Service will offer support, recovery and sanctuary. We hope that it will offer “somewhere to turn” where young people can find someone who “understands” and takes them “seriously”. And we hope that by hearing the many voices of people who are struggling with an eating disorder that together we can find ways of working towards healing and change. We are very clear – anyone struggling with an Eating Disorder or difficult thoughts about food or their body, deserves this. Furthermore, we know that with the right help and the right support, people get better.
If we can offer help, advice or support to you or to your teen, please get in touch with the team.