Blog Entry Four: Are There Charities Out There Already Fulfilling My Recommendation for Change?

There are charities out there already accommodating the recommendations I made to enable improvement on the online education of eating disorders. I have thoroughly researched the different organisation and charities and have created a list of the needs that they are meeting and those in which they are not. The charities and organisations all have online websites that are easily accessible and contain plenty of helpful content for those suffering with eating disorders or have eating disorder ideation.

BEAT Eating Disorders

Beat was founded in 1989 and is a charity that is dedicated to helping those with anorexia and other eating disorders as well as providing information to the general public of the conditions. Upon the home page alone of the BEAT charities website, I can see that the charity promotes eating disorder awareness week through a huge banner which allows you to sign up for a fundraising pack so that the charity can continue to be there for ‘everyone affected by eating disorders’. The words ‘affected by’ indicates to me that they are aiming to reach out and offer support to anyone vulnerable to potential eating disorders, those who know/care for someone with an eating disorder and those with eating disorders also which is meeting the criteria of my idea for the need for change.

(BEAT., N.D)

BEAT’s website also offers easy access to content such as ‘What Are Eating Disorders’ and also the types of eating disorders which provides anyone who accesses the website with medically approved and researched information. With current circumstances regarding COVID-19 the charity hits the mark by acknowledging the stress and anxiety caused by the uncertainty of those in recovery right now. Under the coronavirus section they reassure the audience that their support services are still running as normal and that they have even put extra provisions in place including online group ‘The Sanctuary’ for anyone with an eating disorder.

BEAT., 2020)

The charity have also included a long list of support services that they offer online as well as other organisations and support facilities that are beyond them. The services that they provide include support for both those who are suffering with an eating disorder, and those who are supporting someone with one. They have multiple helplines that are open all year round as well as listing Samaritans as their next choice of support, message boards and chat rooms where everyone can go and make a post or chat with someone if hotlines are busy or if they lack the confidence to speak over the phone. It is clear to see that this charity is going above and beyond to support and educate everyone on eating disorders.

SEED and Their Mission

SEED is another organisation that was formed in 2000. Previously known as the Eating Disorder Support Group they eventually became a registered charity in 2004 and are now under the name SEED (Support and Empathy for people with Eating Disorders). Their services can be accessed through self-referral and include a range of work shops varying between nutrition self-help group, dance therapy and support groups that are accessible through zoom. The charity aims to facilitate recovery by supporting and providing information to carers and sufferers alike.

(SEED., 2014)

General Access to Support

There is also a website run by an organisation called Eating Disorder Hope that was founded by Jaquelyn Ekern in 2005 that promotes the ending of eating disorder behaviours, recovery and the appreciation of individuality. Their mission is to offer educational information, hope and facilities/resources to the general public, those with eating disorders and those who support and care for those with an eating disorder. Their content consists of lists of all the different charities, organisations and their websites that encourage eating disorder recover and help all over the UK, as well as providing their own webinars to the general public.

(EDH., N.D)

In conclusion, there are many other regional specific websites for different parts of the UK that offer similar services via their websites and have their own support lines and chat rooms. Most of these organisations are consistently adapting and developing new way of online support, however it is evident that the topic of accessing online pro-ana content is still a taboo topic that is highly under researched. The general education about eating disorders and points of access that encourage recover are ever-changing and developing which is a great start to enabling recovery for those already suffering from an eating disorder. However, the support for those out there who are vulnerable to the potential of developing an eating disorder due to the pressures of social media is evidentially lacking. Furthermore, I believe that if my recommendations were put in place – specific to the dangers of accessing triggering content – that these would act as preventative measures and reduce the overall number of cases of eating disorders such as anorexia.