#21 Special Episode: National Eating Disorders Awareness Week with Alex and Connie

Trigger Warning: This special episode of This Is A Token is an open conversation between Alex and his daughter Connie about experiences of mental health, eating disorders and suicide.There are two weeks dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders. Firstly, the National Eating Disorders Association’s week is running from the 21st to 27th February - and the second by Beat Eating disorders is from 28th February to 6th March. "Both Connie and I have had our challenges with mental health, and we think of it as very normal so we talk openly about it. During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Connie and I recorded an episode talking about our experiences. I have had to deal with anxiety myself, and we have a history of mental illness in our family. Eating disorders are complex with no one sole cause, but research has shown that individuals might be predisposed due to their genetic or biological make up. There has been a sharp increase in the number of young people experiencing mental health issues and eating disorders. Services are hugely underfunded. Although we may not have the solutions, Connie and I hope that by talking about our experiences, we can help raise awareness of some of the issues.”Did you know?- Approximately 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder.- 1 in 5 females aged 16 to 24 has an eating disorder. - Around 25% of those affected by an eating disorder are male.- Research has shown that 20% of people living with anorexia will die prematurely from their condition. Here are some useful links for further reading on issues discussed by Alex and Connie:For further information on anorexia www.beateatingdisorders.org.ukFor more information on Orri, a specialist clinic, as mentioned by Alex and Connie www.orri-uk.com/For further reading around Children’s Mental Health Services www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/report/briefing-on-childrens-mental-health-services-2020-2021/For more information on mental health www.mind.org.ukIf you have any questions, issues or experiences associated with Eating Disorders Awareness Week, please feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.