Other Help

Emergency

If you need urgent help or are very worried about someone’s mental health, call 111 or go to A&E. If you feel like harming or hurting yourself or other people, call 999 and ask for the police. If you already receive support from mental health services, you will have a care plan. This will include details of who you should call in a crisis. If you can’t find your care plan, ring 111. To talk to someone, you can ring The Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone number, 24 hours) or Saneline on 0300 304 7000 (between 4:30pm and 10:30pm).

NHS

In order to access NHS support with your eating problem, you should talk to your GP first. If you want some advice about how to approach your GP, see Beat’s leaflet about Talking to Your GP. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines about eating disorders on the www.nice.org.uk website may also be a helpful tool to enable you to put into words what you are experiencing.

Below is a list of the services available through a GP or specialist mental health referral:

Richardson Eating Disorders Service
Part of a regional service based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. There is also a service in Darlington.
Regional Department of Psychotherapy
This department based in Newcastle upon Tyne offers a service to people with eating problems.
The EDICT service
Community-based treatment team for young people under 18 based South of the Tyne. Contact Number: 0191 566 5500.
CYPS – Newcastle and Gateshead
Support for mental health issues and eating disorders for young people aged under 18 based in Newcastle and Gateshead. Contact number: 0191 246 6913

Support for Parents and Carers

Maudsley Parents, a volunteer organisation of parents who have helped their children recover from anorexia and bulimia through the use of Family-Based Treatment, also known as the Maudsley approach
Beat’s Worried about Someone page and Downloadable Resources page, including their booklet for carers with practical advice on supporting adults or young people with eating distress
Newcastle Carers: information line at 0191 275 5060 or text on 07874 100 043, for adult unpaid carers who are caring for someone living in Newcastle
Young Minds Parents’ Helpline: 0808 802 5544, free, confidential online and telephone support to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25
Carers Information from the NHS: national information, advice and support for carers in England
Bodywhys: the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, including their free booklet Eating Disorders – a Resource for Parents
Helpguide.org: USA website with information about helping someone with an eating disorder

Local Support

One way to gain some support is to contact NIWE (see Contact Us). You might also want to talk to your friends, family and GP. Sometimes it is hard to start the conversation but there are various sources of information in the local or national links provided that can help you do this, or you can download our list of Counselling Services in the North East.

Mental Health North East helpline page or their Crisis support page
Samaritans of Tyneside: 0191 232 7272 (local call charges apply) or freephone 116 123
The Recovery Colleges in Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland offer a wide range of free courses, workshops and events on mental health topics
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s self help leaflets on a range of issues, including eating disorders
Free podcasts for your wellbeing from The Mental Health Foundation
Tyneside and Northumberland MIND
Mindful Therapies offer a low cost counselling service in Newcastle city centre

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

Self-help peer support group for people with any type of eating distress/issues around food (based on the Twelve Step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous). Meets from 7.00-8.30 pm on Thursdays in the Upstairs Meeting Room at George Street Social, George Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7JN. Newcomers always welcome – just come along on the night. Further information available on tel: 07450 460 848 or see www.oagb.org.uk. Meetings also on Mondays in Gateshead and Wednesdays in Middlesbrough. See OA North Of England for details or the oa.org website for meetings in other areas of the UK and other countries.

Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous (ABA)

Self-help peer support group for people with anorexia or bulimia (also based on the Twelve Step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous). Meets at St George’s Church Hall, St George’s Close, Jesmond NE2 2TF from 6.30-7.30 pm on Tuesdays Newcomers always welcome – just come along on the night. Further information available on tel: 07534 954 519 or see www.aba12steps.org.