Bridgend MS gives powerful plea for Wales eating disorder facility
Sarah Murphy told the Senedd about her experience with anorexia nervosa
A Welsh politician has opened up to the Senedd, with an emotional plea for a dedicated eating disorder residential unit for children in Wales.
Sarah Murphy, who represents Bridgend and Porthcawl, spoke of her experiences having anorexia nervosa ten years ago.
Aged 14, the Labour MS says she was "days away" from being admitted to an adult ward.
She told the Senedd: "They would have locked me up, in an adult psychiatric ward.
"I would never have come out. The only other option at the time was a residential unit in Bristol, and it was full.
"My parents were just so scared. To be honest, I was so unwell, I don't even think I was scared anymore, I didn't know what was going on.
"If you look at the statistics, it's very rare to recover from this, and I did. I can't even really tell you how I did, even now."
Sarah paid tribute to other services in her community, for example Mental Health Matters, with an eating disorder group for support.
People suffering with eating disorders, and their families, come together for support.
She added: "I'd never really talked about this. I went in, and it all just came out. We laughed, which I know sounds really strange, but there's just things that are sometimes bizzare, especially things when you're going through this.
"I just thought to myself, 'I wish I had you when I was that age. I wish my parents had had you.'"
She thanked the minister for their support and efforts to improve youth mental health services.
"I just want to end by saying, to any and all young people out there, I always say to you, 'you are not alone, there is nothing wrong with you, there is help available to you, and you can get through this.'"
Support is available on eating disorders, from the charity Beat, and from NHS Wales.