Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can develop at any age, but young people are most at risk. It’s estimated that over 1.6 million people are affected by a diagnosed or undiagnosed eating disorder, with 14 to 25 year olds most affected.
Often, children and young people with eating disorders have other mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, and NHS England recognises how important it is for children and young people with eating disorders and their families to be able to access effective help quickly.
New waiting time targets were introduced in 2016 to ensure faster access to treatment for those with eating disorders who are under 19 years old. Data from NHS Digital shows that around three quarters of young people referred for urgent treatment for an eating disorder are now seen within one week. However some individuals wait more than two months for their first treatment. For routine cases, more than 80% of patients started treatment within the waiting time target of four weeks.
This decrease in waiting times is encouraging, and in addition, NHS England’s eating disorders programme is supporting the development of 70 dedicated community eating disorders services. However, the pressure on services is increasing and data shows that the number of eating disorder cases among children and young people has risen 55% since 2016.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week, organised by eating disorders charity Beat, is highlighting the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and asking the question ‘Why wait?’ in order to encourage people to take action now. Early access to treatment means that those suffering with an eating disorder will be more likely to make a fast and full recovery.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week runs 28 February to 4 March. Join the conversation on twitter #EDAW18 and #WhyWait
iaptus CYP supports community mental health teams to deliver services for children and young people, helping them to manage their waiting times and improve the quality of their services. Contact us today to discuss how iaptus CYP can support your service, or join an upcoming webinar to find out more.
