A new digital platform aimed at helping people struggling with eating disorders has launched in the UK.
Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviours and related thoughts and emotions.
Epidemiological studies show that some conditions, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are more common among females than males, as women are more likely than men to experience brain activity relating to negative body perception.
More than 8,000 people with severe eating disorders in the UK are currently waiting to be seen for therapy, leading to longer duration of illness, avoidable deaths, increased hospital admissions and extended travel to access services.
The ED (Eating Disorder) Recovery Companion, an online self-help portal designed to support people with eating disorders, aims to fill a “critical gap” in patient support.
The platform allows people to access professional resources and dedicated programmes from home at any time, offering new bundles of resources aimed at helping users navigate recovery every week.
The resource was created by founder Kel O’Neill during lockdown when access to services was limited and waiting times grew.
O’Neill is a founding member of the LEED research collective leading research into the area of eating disorders and a fully accredited member of the BACP and a fellow of the International Society for Psychotherapy and Counselling (ISPC).
She is one of the longest serving ambassadors for the eating disorder charity Beat and suffered herself with an eating disorder.
“Unlike traditional services with stringent referral criteria, the ED Recovery Companion is accessible to anyone seeking support,” she said.
“There are no prerequisites for access, ensuring that all those affected by an eating disorder can make use of the platform. Our subscription model allows for flexibility, with resources available for up to 52 weeks. This ensures that individuals can engage with the programme for as long as it’s beneficial to their recovery journey.”
The platform, the founder said, is a lifeline for those struggling to access services. “This service allows people to access resources wherever they are, and whenever they need it,” she added.
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The post New platform launched to support people with eating disorders appeared first on FemTech World.
The post New platform launched to support people with eating disorders appeared first on FemTech World.