Resources for parents and carers

On this page, you will find many resources that you might find helpful to better understand eating disorders, and advice on how to best support your child and managing as a family. There are many helpful resources available however we have selected the list below using recommendations from parents who have cared for their own child with an eating disorder.

Useful websites/podcasts

• The Royal College of Psychiatrists website includes readable, user-friendly and evidence-based information on various mental health problems, treatments and other topics, regularly updated by psychiatric experts.
• Mind campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding in mental health, and aim to provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
• Carers UK
• Carers Oxfordshire – A charity that provides information, advice and support for carers and to register as a carer.
• Eva Musby’s website​ – Provides links to her book, video and audio resources, Youtube videos, handout sheets, (International charity)
• BEAT – Includes information about eating disorders, telephone help lines and support forum for all ages
• F.E.A.S.T – For parents and caregivers of loved ones affected by eating disorders support, webinars and 30 days of lessons and around the dinner table forum.
• New Maudsley – Offers evening/weekday & weekend carer skills workshops, podcasts, resource sheets, support groups once a month
• Charlie Waller – Mental health charity helping to improve young people’s understanding of their mental health and wellbeing.  Resources, guides, webinars, training within schools and workplace.
• Parent webinars | Oxford Health CAMHSOxford Health CAMHS – Awareness sessions online for parents that contain useful information about how to support your child with some of the commonly seen emotional and mental health concerns.
• PEACE Pathway – Pathway for people with eating disorders and autism spectrum condition.  Offers help, support, resources and research for autistic people, carers and clinicians
• Back to the table – This podcast shares stories, experiences from those impacted by or interested in breaking free from an eating disorder
  

Support groups

Beat run a number of eating disorder online support groups for both those suffering and for carers.

Visit their Online support groups page to find out more about the groups.

Useful videos

• After Anorexia: Life’s too short to weigh your cornflakes – Catherine Pawley
• Eva Musby – Help your child eat with trust, not logic: the bungee jump (Anorexia & other Eating Disorders)
• Eva Musby – Stuck & not eating! Anorexia/ eating disorders: parents’ meal support tips
• Eva Musby – Anorexia and other eating disorders: HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD EAT WELL AND BE WELL
• Eva Musby – Peace, compassion & courage for parents of someone with anorexia or another eating disorder

Recommended reading

• Survive FBT by Maria Ganci – A short and readable guide to the family-based approach to helping a young person with an eating disorder
• Help your teenager beat an eating disorder by James Locke and Daniel Le Grange – Offers practical advice and hope for parents
• Skills-based caring for a loved one with an eating disorder by Janet Treasure, G Smith and A Crane Routledge 2017 – Equips carers with the skills and knowledge needed to support those suffering from an eating disorder
• Eating disorders; a parent guide by Rachel Bryant-Waugh and Bryan Lask 2013 – Lots of useful information and ideas on how to help
• Anorexia and other eating disorders; How to help your child eat well and be well; Practical solutions, compassionate communication tools and emotional support for parents of children and teenagers by Eva Musby – Written by the mother of someone diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and offers practical advice for managing mealtimes, information about helpful things/unhelpful things to say and advice on developing one’s own emotional resources
• Boys get anorexia too by Jenny Langley – Detailed observational account of anorexia nervosa in a boy and the effect on their family with practical tips on how to manage everyday situations
• Decoding anorexia by Carrie Arnold – Explains anorexia nervosa from a biological perspective, which can be helpful for carers who wish to know more about the science behind their loved one’s behaviours
• Overcoming binge eating by Prof Christopher Fairburn, Guildford Press;2013 – Includes useful information about eating disorders as well as practical ways of making changes
• Overcoming low self-esteem; a self help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques by Melanie Fennell. 2016 – Includes information about low self-esteem and self help strategies to improve self-esteem
• My Kid is Back by Daniel Le Grange – My Kid is Back explains how family-based treatment can greatly reduce the severity of anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents, allowing the sufferer to return to normal eating patterns, and their families to return to normal family life