The rise in people seeking help for eating disorders is likely due to the impact of COVID-19, an expert in the field has said.

Ireland’s Eating Disorder Association Bodywhys is warning that there has been a 19.5% increase in the number of people accessing support services since 2022.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Bodywhys psychotherapist Harriet Parsons said the figures are “really high”.

“As the support partner to the HSE clinical programme for eating disorders, we know that also clinical services, they’re also seeing that increase,” she said. 

“During COVID, there was a huge spike; that it has come down but it has settled at a much higher incidence.” 

Although the pandemic is over, Ms Parsons described it as a “real disaster” for the mental health of young people in particular. 

“If you look at the age profile on the services, around 50% of the people who were contacting us were contacting us about someone who is under 18,” she said. 

“COVID, I think, in terms of mental health, we are now seeing the effects of that and I know that I’ve heard of that in different kinds of areas of mental health as well.”

Greater awareness

Ms Parsons said another factor behind the rise is that more people are seeking help when they develop problems with their mental health.

“I think that, on the one hand, you have better awareness about eating disorders, better awareness of the signs and symptoms,” she said.

“[There is] better awareness generally about mental health, seeking help, finding solutions and going for treatment.” 

Despite this, Ms Parsons said said 90% of patients are female - although higher numbers of men seek help when they develop eating disorders than in previous years. 

“It’s much more usual nowadays for men and boys to seek help and to come forward and tell their families that they’re suffering and to do and get treatment,” she said. 

“So, that’s much more usual than when I started at Bodywhys 19-years ago; however, it’s generally accepted that about 25% of people with an eating disorder are male.” 

Recovery

According to the HSE, eating disorders impact at least 1% of the population during their lifetime. 

Anyone who thinks they have one is encouraged to speak to their GP and Ms Parsons stressed that recovery is possible. 

“I hate when I hear that people are being told, ‘This is something that you’re going to have to struggle with forever’ - absolutely not,” she said. 

“People recover from eating disorders - eating disorders are not lifelong and it is possible to recover.” 

If you are impacted by the issued discussed in this article you can contact the BodyWhys helpline on (01) 2107906.

Main image: COVID masks. Picture by: Alamy.com