As you know on the 2nd March I am holding a photo call / drop in session in Parliament with MPs and Peers! This is part of the work of the Hearts Minds Genes Coalition to transform eating disorder treatment. It is so exciting that lots of MPs have confirmed their attendance already but I need your help to ensure that the Minister for Mental Health comes along!
There are two things you can do right now to encourage her to come!
1. Tweet her asking for her to join feel free to use the sample tweet right here:
Will you @GillianKeegan support @HopeVirgo with her campaign this #EDAW because #eatingdisorders do not have one look! Will you join her drop in on 2 March between to show your support for those with #EatingDisorders ?
2. Please do pop Gillian an email too! ( there is an example template below and please do feel free to personalise it!)
Thank you so much for all your support! (Daily updates on the campaign can be found over on my Instagram "hopevirgo_" and watch this space for lots of new bits coming up soon!
Letter to the Minister - please do personalise as much as you like!
Minister for Mental Health Letter and Contact info: https://contactus.dhsc.gov.uk/ AND gillian.keegan.mp@parliament.uk
Dear the RT Hon Gillian Keegan,
I am writing to invite you in your role as Minister for Mental Health to ask you to attend the Photo Drop-In in support of the work the Hearts Minds and Genes Coaltition are doing on eating disorders. A group chaired by campaigner Hope Virgo, and campaigning to end the injustices of those affected by eating disorders. You will have received an email about with location and timings from hopevirgo@hotmail.com and I would urge you to go along and show your support.
Eating disorders are an urgent issue impacting members of your constituency and millions across the country.
Eating disorders are not new illnesses, but there has been a massive rise in cases during the pandemic. Unacceptable delays before treatment means we are also seeing a rise in avoidable chronic long-term illness and loss of life with life expectancy of those with eating disorders at approximately 50 years of age.
No-one should be condemned to a life of illness, nor should anyone be dying of an eating disorder in 2022.
Those suffering are so often hidden in plain sight amongst all ages, genders races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations and socio-economic status, affecting every aspect of society.
They are serious, biologically based mental illnesses deserving of equal clinical and research funding to that given to other complex diseases. We want to ensure that no-one with an eating disorder need experience shame or guilt, and everybody should have timely access to specialist services.
Come and show your support for a campaign that can and will save lives.
Yours Sincerely,