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).
Click here for a list of Useful Support and Information around looking after your wellbeing during the current Covid-19 situation – including services that can be accessed online (Last updated 23/03/20)
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
- Regional Carers Centres are situated throughout the North East. These offer a safe space for adults who provide a voluntary caring role to talk, be heard and receive support. The attached provides contact details for each local centre.
- 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.
ABA & OA Meetings & Contact Details Flyer (PDF)
Student Counselling Services
Universities and some colleges have their own counselling service which is free and confidential and is available to all students.
- University of Newcastle Student Wellbeing Service: 0191 208 6000
- Northumbria University Student Counselling Service: 0191 227 4576
- University of Sunderland Student Counselling Service: 0191 515 2933
- Durham University Counselling Service: 0191 334 2200
Counselling and Support for Young People
- Streetwise : 0191 230 5400, for young people aged 11 to 25
- WEYES : 0191 273 3997, drop-in sessions and counselling
- YoungMinds : young people’s mental health and wellbeing
- Childline : 0800 1111
Other Counselling Services
National Support
The following may offer you further information.
- Beat (www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk) the leading UK wide eating disorders charity, which also has a youth helpline.
- Royal College of Psychiatrists – Eating disorders leaflets available
- Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association
- National Centre for Eating Disorders
- MIND have a section on their website about eating problems, including a downloadable booklet
- Samaritans
- Seed Eating Disorder Support Service, Hull
- Archived NHS Direct information. Tel: 111
- Kings College London Institute of Psychiatry
- Male VoicED – Male Voices with Eating Disorders
- CALM – the campaign against living miserably, dedicated to preventing male suicide in the UK
- YoungMinds – young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Some online resources
- NIWE’s list of suggested apps for mental health and wellbeing
- Eating Disorders: I think my child has an eating disorder – what should I say – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irI4MzjVvxY&feature=youtu.be
- When to worry- diet vs eating disorder? coping vs copying? exercise vs obsession – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQKJCcTBmJs
- Promoting positive body image – ideas for teachers and parents – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4LGYZf0vBw
- Preparing to visit the GP about your mental health – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaR-c-tQPTs
- Eating Disorders: 4 Things not to say to a recovering anorexic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMhtRB1qC1w
- Eating Disorders: Managing the festive period – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4nCW2NEoUg
- Why is weight restoration so important when treating anorexia? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lESFK99aMeU
- 5 things I hate about anorexia – a personal take – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pKRUskS7HU
- CAMHS eating disorders – working with schools – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOvWaFlRJes
- Newcastle benefits, debt and money support advice guide – https://newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/wwwfileroot/benefits-and-council-tax/welfare-rights-and-money-advice/where_to_get_advice_august_2018.pdf