It’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week
1 in 10* children we are working with at Kids Inspire are telling us they are experiencing difficulties eating. Sadly, this is an increase of 100%* in the past year.
One of our Therapists recently confided that the more complex cases with the young people she works with, the more likely they are to experience strained relationships with eating and self-care. This manifests as isolation, withdrawing from an everyday routine, not doing exercise, eating regularly, or wanting to go out. It can also cause a young person to have reduced attention due to hunger pangs. One of the ways we work with young people experiencing disordered eating is through our group work.
Why groups work for young people with Eating Disorders?
Groups are becoming an increasingly important part of our work with families to help maximise impact and reach within the community.
For many, if not all, meaningful relationships are built on safety and trust, with face-to-face being at the heart of that connection.
“It felt like a safe space”, and “when I started attending the group, I was extremely depressed and anxious, but everything has improved, and changes have been made”, are feedback we received from two young people who attended a group to help with their disordered eating. To them, the group was a safe space with peer and specialist support. In part it was the socialisation and responding to others in the here-and-now that helped them on their journey.
Group Work is not just peer support for young people, groups are also for the family – space and time for them to focus on their own journey alongside their child. It offers the opportunity to meet other families experiencing something similar. Be it eating, sleeping, anxiety, or another mental health issue, if a significant person in a child’s life gains awareness and understanding of behaviours, that can be the turning point for a young person receiving therapy or support.
Structure of the groups
Each group is structured differently, depending on the aim and audience. We have groups for children and young people and groups for the adults in the family. The focus of the group could be on grounding and stabilisation, while in other groups there could be focus on healthy body – healthy mind, placing emphasis on fitness and mindfulness techniques. Socialisation and peer support can unify a group, promoting unity and self-belief and to know they are not alone. Whilst they all have experiences which remain unique, they can find empathy and relatability from talking to others. Therefore, we work to support and encourage emotional regulation, for individuals to function in the here-and-now, whilst connecting to the body and engaging meaningfully with others.
“Thank you for letting me join, I honestly don’t know where I would be without it ”
We hope that these types of groups will continue as we have seen such a positive impact and response from those that have attended.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week runs 27 February - 5 March 2023. Beat, the eating disorder charity has a wealth of information and a helpline which is open 365 days a year from 9am-midnight.
*1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 Data from Kids Inspire Impact Report
Blog written by a non-clinical member of the Kids Inspire team.