Fears early signs of eating disorders missed in South Yorkshire during Covid
Psychologists are seeing more serious cases because they've not been treated early
South Yorkshire health bosses tell us they're worried the early signs of eating disorders are being missed because of less face-to face interaction during the pandemic.
The NHS support service in Sheffield's seen a rise in referrals recently but many are more serious cases because their problems haven't been spotted and dealt with at an early stage.
Clinical Psychologist Dr Amy Wicksteed leads the service - she says there are fewer opportunities for early intervention during the pandemic:
"Sadly what we're seeing is people presenting for help often at a much more severe presentation than we would have typically seen. And I think that's people having a lack of face-to-face time with teachers, colleagues, bosses - people who would maybe have flagged concerns and nudged someone to get help.
"I see people who are desperate for help but they are having a set of thoughts that are so clouding their judgement at times that they back off from getting help.
"I'm cautious that the message isn't 'oh gosh, services are overwhelmed, I can't possibly bother them.' Because unfortunately that's the nature of the eating disorder - it's likely to leave someone feeling they don't deserve help and I so want to push back from that message."
It comes as today marks the start of Eating Disorder Awareness Week this week.
Nicole's from Doncaster and suffered from annorexia in her teens - she says lockdown has had a real impact on those going through the same:
"I felt quite isolated and almost as if no-one understood me. Which wasn't the case but when you're in that situation it is a really lonely place to be. With the social isolation it kind of makes it even more lonely and I think it gives the eating disorder more space to be cruel to the person.
"Honestly it just completely took over my life and it kind of invaded every aspect of my life. People tend to think eating disorders are just about food and about weight but they're much more complex and they really do impact every part of your life.
"Please do reach out because you deserve to be supported and you deserve to recover and you can get through it. I'm proof of that because I've come out the other side now so I can say there is hope."
This week the eating disorder charity Beat is trying to break down stigmas around binge eating.
It says almost half of those who suffer with this type of eating disorder think their illness isn't taken seriously by healthcare professionals.