With the constant political turmoil that seems to be taking place now we need to make sure that eating disorders aren’t forgotten!

Please know that it was these letters that have helped get us this far with the campaign and we need more of them to ensure we don’t go back to square 1!

This is where we need your help to create more noise! There are 2 things you can do right now to help:

1.Below is a draft letter to copy, paste and email over to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and it would be amazing if you could take just a few minutes out today to contact Thérèse Coffey MP!

2.Show your support on social media! Suggested message: Will you @theresecoffey make a commitment to help end the epidemic of those affected by eating disorders by supporting the #Changethestory campaign because no one should be dying of an eating disorder in 2022! @HopeVirgo #dumpthescales

Please do personalise it and add your stories in too! 

Thank you so so much! 

Letter to Thérèse Coffey MP

https://contactus.dhsc.gov.uk/ and therese.coffey.mp@parliament.uk

Dear Thérèse Coffey MP

Congratulations on your appointment to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

In response to rising eating disorder rates, the lack of support and the high mortality rates we are seeing, a new group, Hearts Minds and Genes has formed to work with government to ensure the complex interface between eating disorders and obesity is fully understood; and that appropriate measures are put in place to tackle eating disorders across the country. Hope Virgo of Dump the Scales Chairs the coalition.

The coalition has made huge strides this year but still hasn’t had a concrete commitment from the government to fund services and tackle this as a matter or urgency!

I have my concerns for those affected by Eating Disorders, the strict criteria to access support services and the long-term implications for those who don’t get the support they need. Eating Disorders are a growing problem. The recent 2019 Health Survey found that 16% of adults aged 16 and over (19% of women and 13% of men) screened positive for a possible eating disorder. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted eating disorder rates with 16% of the total population affected - an increase of 266% compared to pre-pandemic rates.

The pandemic has led to a large number of new cases of Eating Disorders but has also had a detrimental impact on those already suffering with eating disorders and those in recovery. Eating Disorders have the highest mortality of any mental illness and are a hidden epidemic.

We are urging you to:

1.     Review the suggested recommendations that you have been sent from Hope Virgo, the Hearts Minds and Genes Coalition

2.     Take action to prevent high eating disorder levels for the next generation

3.     Increase access to services and treatment

We urge you to meet with the co-chairs of the Hearts, Minds coalition at your earliest convenience to discuss how rising eating disorder rates can be tackled in the context of the aftermath of COVID-19

If we don't tackle this problem now, the rise in eating disorder cases may not dissipate but instead become a new normal. 

I look forward to your response and to hear what you are doing to tackle this

Thank you