Hello Everyone,
I’m Savannah Das and I am currently studying at Ashton Sixth Form College (In England) and I am doing a piece of research about there not being enough support in place for teenagers with eating disorders. I would greatly appreciate it if you anybody will fill in my questionnaire?
Thank you a lot.
Where is the questionnaire. Which eating disorders are you referring to? A specific?
Referring too eating disorders as a whole. You will have copy and paste the questionnaire and then fill it in and then copy and paste with it filled it and send it back to me as it wont let me attach any files. Thank you.
“There isn’t enough support in place for teenagers with eating disorders”
I’m Savannah Das and I am currently studying at Ashton Sixth Form College and I am doing a piece of research about there not being enough support in place for teenagers with eating disorders. I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer the following questions to help me along with my research.
1.Do you think that there is enough support in place for teenagers with eating disorders?
2.Where do you think teenagers receive help and support? Please state one.
School/College/Clinics/H ospitals/Friends/Family
3.Can you identify the signs and symptoms of someone who has developed or has an eating disorder?
4.Are there enough people trained to help and support teenagers with eating disorders? Explain your answer:
5.Is there any improvements that need to be made? Yes or No
If yes please explain below:
6.If a teacher or a colleague has noticed signs of someone with an eating disorder should they then keep it confidential and only between themselves or should they let that students’ parents know?
7.What sort of training do you think people need to help and support teenagers with an eating disorder?
8.Do you think schools/colleges should be allowed to help and support teenagers with an eating disorder?
9.Do you think there should be more awareness of teenagers with an eating disorder?
1.Do you think that there is enough support in place for teenagers with eating disorders?
No. The Government needs to invest billions into providing more facilities, appointments and complex care in order to combat this.
2.Where do you think teenagers receive help and support? Please state one.
School/College/Clinics/H ospitals/Friends/Family
It depends how open the teenager is. I think schools play an important role, families are central (but families need to have access to therapy in order for this to really help). Friends when they say the right things are also a great help.
3.Can you identify the signs and symptoms of someone who has developed or has an eating disorder?
Yes. It's not all about anorexia. Weight loss is a given, but weight can be stable and the individual still has an e.d. Looking for mood swings, depression, unhealthy skin and nails. Callouses in patients with bulimia. Exercise exercise. Withdrawn from social occasions. Excuses such as "eaten already" and being excused straight after meals. Avoidance of eating in public. Limited concentration and exhausted easily. Having an unhealthy relationship with their body and with food.
4.Are there enough people trained to help and support teenagers with eating disorders? Explain your answer:
No. See qu 1, it's not just for teenagers, CAMHS is in crisis, and adult support is even worse.
5.Is there any improvements that need to be made? Yes or No
Yes
If yes please explain below:
The bottom line is more professionals require training in order to provide more appointments. Facilities need improving massively, and more space in order to accommodate patients being treated in the community and bed spaces in hospital, which are currently a desperate situation.
6.If a teacher or a colleague has noticed signs of someone with an eating disorder should they then keep it confidential and only between themselves or should they let that students’ parents know?
The teacher should keep confidentiality unless the person provides a significant risk to themselves or others. The teacher should talk with the teenager, asking open questions about their general wellbeing. The teacher needs to build a relationship of trust with the individual, and not launch straight to the point. If they do, the teenager will not admit, so it's a bit pointless.
7.What sort of training do you think people need to help and support teenagers with an eating disorder?
Language around eating, body, food and disorders. Understanding that eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes and affect boys and girls. Sourcing appropriate treatment (although that can be a nightmare), and referring to counselling services where possible. They also need to be mindful about managing work, especially if the teen has been out of school for a bit. Quite often work stress can be a contributory factor, and therefore this needs to be staggered whilst they are getting better.
8.Do you think schools/colleges should be allowed to help and support teenagers with an eating disorder?
No. They are not trained professionals, therefore advice can be unhelpful. In terms of concrete support this should be done by professionals only. That said, schools can help by being empathetic and a voice to talk to. They can also help manage expectations and pressures.
9.Do you think there should be more awareness of teenagers with an eating disorder?
More positive awareness e.g. that it is not a selfish and self centred desire to look thin. They are waaay more complex than that.
