Last week was Eating Disorder Awareness Week and it was amazing seeing so many conversations taking place! 

The #DumpTheScales campaign got 4 mentions in parliament including one from Jackie Doyle Price, the Minister for Mental Health which is all very exciting! Next week I have a number of meetings with the government and we need to make sure that we are as close to 100,000 signatures by then so we can make the government see this as a priority! 

Whilst MPs are talking about the campaign we must make sure this momentum doesn’t slow down so right now please copy and paste the below letter and send to your local MP. I promise it won’t take you Moreno than a few minutes! And please do let me know what they say! You can find your Local MP here https://www.theyworkforyou.com

Thank you for all your ongoing support! Together we can change this!! 

Letter to your MP (just copy and paste the below, add your names, address so they need you live in their constituency and click send) 

Dear xxxx

As your constituent, I am writing in support of the #DumpTheScales campaign led by author and mental health campaigner Hope Virgo, and I hope you are able to support the campaign too.

The aim of the campaign is to end the injustices that people with eating disorders face, so everyone can get support they need.

Currently sufferers of eating disorders are being turned away from treatment as a result of their BMI not being low enough. This is not acceptable. 

Sufferers should be judged on their mental state, not their physical weight.

We are calling for the government to implement the NICE guidelines through GP and clinical training, to ensure that those suffering with Eating Disorders get the treatment they deserve, before it gets to crisis point.

There are over 1.6million people in the UK that have an Eating Disorder. This is not an issue that will go away, but with effective preventative strategies that stop people from getting to crisis point, we have the opportunity to save lives, and to save the NHS money.

If you would like to get involved, we have numerous ways in which you can:

1. Write to the Secretary of State and the Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention on this issue.

2. Sign the petition at - https://www.change.org/p/eating-disorders-are-not-just-about-weight-dumpthescales

3. Tweet in support of the #DumpTheScales Campaign, with a link to our petition. Example tweet:  I’m supporting @HopeVirgo’s Campaign to #DumpTheScales. Anyone can have an eating disorder and it’s too simplisitic to turn people away from support based on their BMI – please do sign: https://www.change.org/p/eating-disorders-are-not-just-about-weight-dumpthescales

4. Meet with Hope to discuss the issue in more detail

You can contact Hope to meet with her, to ask for more information on the campaign, or for template press releases, by emailing her at hopevirgo@hotmail.com

I do hope you can get behind this vital campaign to ensure that sufferers get the help they need before they reach crisis point.

Yours sincerely,