An online platform for parents and carers of young people with an eating disorder within the first few weeks of treatment has been shortlisted for a national award for innovation and good practice in self-management of illnesses.
The CARED website, developed by NHS Lothian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in partnership with parents and carers and supported by the UK’s eating disorder charity Beat, was shortlisted for Resource of the Year in the Alliance Self Management Awards for its service helping parents understand eating disorders and care for their ill loved ones.
1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder and these illnesses cost families an average of £32,672 a year in travel expenses, lost income and other costs.
Families can play a vital role in supporting sufferers and family-based therapy is recommended as the most effective method for first treating anorexia and or bulimia in young people.
Yet more than 40% of carers nationally say that on first referral they did not receive any information about eating disorders, and over 60% said they were not told about sources of help such as peer support groups or helplines.
The website was funded by a Technology Enabled Care Grant from the Scottish Government and offers resources to help parents develop practical skills for dealing with a loved one’s eating disorder, including videos from other parents & carers, links to appropriate resources, and advice from recovered young people, doctors and other parents and carers.
Mother and mental health author Eva Musby said, “When you first realise your child might have an eating disorder, you have no idea how much there is to learn, fast. You don’t know the difference between great and awful treatment.
“The tips and the videos on CARED are top notch, and they will set parents off on the right track. If I had had that when my daughter was diagnosed age 10, it might have saved her a year of hospitalisation.”
Beat’s Head of Communications Rebecca Field said “Eating disorders cause great distress not only to those suffering with these serious mental illnesses but to their families and those who care for them.
“It is essential that families get the information and help they need to support their loved ones with an eating disorder and to look after their own mental health.
“The shortlisting of CARED for the Self-Management Award highlights how partnerships between NHS services and charities like Beat can empower parents in achieving a full recovery for their loved ones.”
Dr Fiona Duffy, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS Lothian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), said: “We are honoured that CARED has been shortlisted for the Alliance Scotland Self Management Award.
“The process of supporting a loved one with an eating disorder can be highly stressful and the first few weeks of treatment can be overwhelming. By offering practical advice and resources at this time, alongside evidence based treatment, we hope to assist parents and carers in getting the right information that they need to help support their child in their recovery from an eating disorder.”
“It was a pleasure to work in partnership with parents and carers to develop CARED, ensuring that it met the needs of families supporting a young person with an eating disorder. We hope CARED supports parents to feel more confident in their abilities, gives them the skills and knowledge and reduce feelings of isolation, and are extremely grateful for funding from the Scottish Government to support the project.”
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