Publish date: 2 August 2022
Sky News visited the Trust on Monday 1 August to interview three people about the pressure mental health services are under, looking at whether social media is a factor for young people to look a certain way and how this can lead to increases in health issues such as eating disorders.
Our trust has seen a 140% increase in referrals to eating disorder services since 2019, with the impact of the pandemic being one of many factors.
Sky News spoke to Lizzie, a former patient of our Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) service, who shared her own experiences to help others. Lizzie first fell ill aged only 12 years old and was treated by CAMHS for several years. She has now made a good recovery and is studying medicine at university.
Dr Dorothy Newton, CAMHS Consultant for Eating Disorders said:
“I think that in many cases where a young person develops an eating disorder it is often multi-factorial, but we have absolutely seen many young people who are developing eating disorders who feel they are influenced by online content and that has led to, for example, anxiety, about their body shape.”
Dr Derek Tracy, Trust Medical Director highlighted an increased level of investment and innovation within our services to improve them and to provide more treatment in the community to help cope with increasing demand:
“I think we’ll cope, but we may have to work differently. It’s as busy as it’s been and it’s the busiest I’ve seen in my career. There is no doubt we’re in a different position than to where we were nationally three years ago; the numbers are up across all age groups, and in all types of presentations.”
Watch the full Sky News interview here:
At the Trust, we offer assessment and treatment to young people under 18 years who are registered with a GP in the boroughs of Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham who have or are suspected to have anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders.
Click here to learn more about our CAMHS service and the support available.