1.25 million people in the UK are currently suffering from an eating disorder. They have the highest mortality rate than any other mental illness. Yet still, so little is known. 

I was 11 when I developed anorexia nervosa. After some significant weight loss, my mother took me to our local gp who weighed me and said ‘ she just needs to eat more, she's not underweight enough to be admitted.’ 

A year later, I was admitted to A&E after a 3 hour long OCD episode(brought in by the anorexia) and this is where I stayed, waiting for an assessment from CAMHS. It was here where I lost a further 4 kg in hospital. And my heart became very weak. This could have been prevented if the Gp I saw initially had taken my mothers' concerns more seriously. Due to lack of education on mental illness the Gp had not heard of anorexia developing in prepubescent girls. 
 In hospital, it became evident that the nurses had almost no training on OCD or Eating disorders. They sent me to a dietitian, who had very little knowledge in this area of her field. She told my parents to sneak calories into my food without me knowing. Whilst this makes sense from a physical POV, anorexia is a mental illness, an intense fear of food and weight gain. weight loss is just a side effect. Sneaking calories into my food would have been dangerous, if not life threatening , potentially causing refeeding syndrome. My mum knew about this syndrome, but for a parent/ carer who doesn't, this advice could have caused some serious harm.

It took me 5 years to fully recover. I truely y believe  If i was given the help i needed at the beginning of my illness all this pain and suffering could have been prevented. 

This is why doctors, gps  and nurses need more compulsory  training in the mental health sector. More effective services must be in place for people starting to show symptoms of a mental illness. Currently, you have to be at death's door to get help which in the long run costs not only more money but treatment is less likely to be as effective for the sufferer. Catch mental illness early  and give easily accessible support to the sufferers and their family.