The number of people accessing support for eating disorders across North East Lincolnshire is increasing
Better recognition of support services and a drastic rise to the number of people affected during the pandemic is thought to be the reason more people are reaching out
There is a continual increase in the number of people accessing support for eating disorders in North East Lincolnshire,
It's thought the constant demand is because of better recognition of support services and a drastic rise during the pandemic - resulting in more people needing support
Kerry Green, is a nurse at Rharian Fields - a part of mental health services at Navigo.
She says the cause of an eating disorder is hard to determine:
"It's not all about the appearance, weight or food when it comes to eating disorders. There's often a link with how someone might be coping with difficult emotions or seeking to gain a sense of control in their lives.
"While we recognise eating disorders can become very serious conditions, we sometimes find that some people don't feel that they can reach out for support, like they're not struggling enough for example. But we want to reassure that the support is there."
Rharian Fields is a specialist eating disorder service in North East Lincolnshire.
They help people live with and recover from illnesses such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder or Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED).
Kerry added that there's particular groups who can be most at risk:
"It's recognised that eating disorders often develop in teenage years or the early twenties, however, we know that they can occur at any age, regardless of gender... and we know with the weather improving, and dictating what we choose to wear that this might cause some uneasiness for some people who have concerns around there body image."
To access help or find out more information about eating disorders, head over to the NAViGO Hub.