Young People Resources and FAQ

The following resources provide information, advice and support for young people affected by eating difficulties. They can help you learn more about your experiences and support your recovery journey.

Advice from other young people

Hear directly from young people who have received support from our CAMHS Eating Disorders Team. Their experience and reflections may help you feel less alone, understand what recovery can look like and offer hope for the journey ahead:

• An open letter

• A personal story

A young person who has previously been in our CAMHS eating disorder service has advised us on this question and said:

‘It might be difficult at first but taking this first step is the best you can ever do.’

Websites

• Beat is the UK’s leading eating disorder charity and their helpline is there to encourage and empower people to get help quickly.
• Boys get eating disorders too is a charitable organisation that seeks to raise awareness of eating disorders in boys and to support sufferers, carers and their families

Books

• Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher Fairburn is a self-help guide for people who think they might be binge eating.
• The Overcoming Bulimia Workbook by McCabe, McFarlane and Olmsted is a self-help guide for individuals with symptoms of bulimia nervosa.
• Binge Control A Compact Recovery Guide helps people to understand binge-eating disorders (BED)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

These questions below have been created collaboratively by clinicians and young people. These questions are ones we are typically asked most frequently. If you have a question that is not here, please ask your clinician at your next appointment or at your assessment if you are new to service.

Do I have to come to CAMHS with my parents?

Legally, if you are under 16, your parents/carer(s) will need to attend your initial assessment as they are responsible for you so we will need to ask them before we can help you. This can be really helpful as we might be able to help them to support you and understand you better.

If you are 16 or over, we would recommend that you invite your parents/carer(s) to the initial assessment appointment. All young people will be offered time with a clinician on their own as part of the assessment, and this is the same for parents/carer(s) who attend the assessment also.

If you require on-going treatment within our service, we can discuss with you who will be involved in your care and who will attend your CAMHS appointments.

Do I have to be weighed?

As part of medical monitoring, it is likely that you will need to weighed. We understand that this can be difficult for some young people. We can talk about weighing arrangements with you to make this easier. Your weight are important to monitor progress and a way for us to monitor your safety. However, your weight is not the only measure we use to monitor your health. We also look at other physical health indicators but most importantly, we listen to what you and your family report to us.

Will I need to gain weight?

If you are underweight, part of your treatment may involve restoring your weight back to what is healthy for you and your body. Our priority is ensuring that you are physically healthy and fit. This may seem frightening and unpleasant, but we need to ensure you are not putting yourself at risk of harm.

Being underweight and/or not eating enough has significant risks and consequences on your health. We know that gaining weight may be a difficult experience for you and so part of the treatment will support you and your family to manage this process.

How long do I have to come to CAMHS for?

Each young person’s journey through CAMHS is different so there is no one answer. Our figures show that the average time a young person spends in our service is around one year however some families need less time and others might require more.

When will my appointment be?

Your appointments will be arranged between you and the clinician who is meeting with you. Appointments can be booked week by week but also can be booked further in advance if this is helpful. Appointments may fall in school and/or work times, but we will try our best to work around your needs.

Everyone’s Experience is Different

You may have heard from other young people or read on the internet that some young people have not found CAMHS helpful. Like all things in life, each of us experience things differently to one another. Just because your friend may have not found CAMHS helpful does not mean you will not either.

Taking the first step

At the same time, we do recognise that some young people may find it difficult to accept they have an eating problem and do not want help from us. Our experience is that at the beginning of treatment, you may find it difficult but by the end of treatment, young people are often grateful for the help they receive from CAMHS.