What is the point in raising awareness?

| Beat, UK's leading charity supporting those suffering with eating disorder.

by Miriam Gradel

Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Feb 26 – March 4) comes at the right time. The NHS recently reported an almost doubling in the number of people admitted to hospital. All due to appearance-obsessed young girls, right?

Wrong. According to NHS Digital, since 2011 the number of men with eating disorder has increased at the same rate as women.

We can’t ignore that body perfection is on a rise. The good news is that the gender bias is fading. More men are feeling comfortable seeking help, which might positively explain the increase. The bad news is that the NHS is anything but prepared.

In December alone, more than 500 patients had to move out of their area, due to a shortage in beds in their local area. People from the Midlands and East covered the greatest distance, with nearly 50% having to travel 100km or more to get help. Further statistics from the NHS shows that in mental health cases, people have to wait up to 182 days to receive the right care.

And so, what is the point in encouraging people to seek help, if it can’t be guaranteed? Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is blaming NHS bosses. The bosses are blaming the trust. And the trust is crying for more funding. As long as this blame-game continues, nothing is done to actually fix the system. What a shame.

Follow Miriam Gradel @ChopstickChamp on Twitter.

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