Susan Ringwood Chief Executive- Beat Helplines Partnership London Nov 14

Susan RingwoodChief Executive- Beat

Helplines PartnershipLondon Nov 14

Susan RingwoodChief Executive- Beat

Beat Board Dec 13

Talk outline

• Beat- our history with Help-lines• The services and support we provide• The key challenges we face• The future of helplines



The Beat Team


Our history

• Formed in 1989• 3 local charities merged• First UK wide charity for eating

disorders• Eating Disorders Association• Became Beat in 2007


Early Days...


Our history...


Our vision is...

that eating disorders will be beaten



We believe:

• Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses

• They are multi-factorial• They are treatable conditions• Recovery is possible


• Help-lines, email and text• Website, forums and live chat• Support groups• Literature and publications• Work in schools• Training and conferences• Media work and campaigning

What we do


Understanding Eating Disorders-Challenges & Opportunities Oct 14

Helpline data

1989

• 4,000 calls• 5 volunteers• 78% of contacts


Helpline data

2002

16,000 calls3.4 fte staff15 volunteers58% of contacts


Helpline data

2013-14

7,500 calls3.4 fte staff15 volunteers2.5% of contacts


Helpline Partnership- Peterborough Nov 13





Reasons for Contact

• First worries or diagnosis 50%

• Treatment access 35%

• Crisis 25%


First worries

“ I had a bit of knowledge- I’m a nurse,but I looked at your website and itconfirmed my feelings. I made anappointment with our GP straight

away”


Access to treatment

“There was no-one locally our GP knew who worked in the NHS”

“ all we have been given is an eatingplan, and I don’t think that will make

her start eating at all”


Crisis

“ The A&E department didn’t seem to know how to deal with her suicide attempts and self harm”“It got very scary and I can’t believe I

got so frightened of my own daughter, the outbursts were terrifying”

The future

• Telephone help-lines a core service...• ...not a crisis service• Better signposting• Call again• Link to on-line support• Call a counsellor


Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2015 Feb 23rd-28th


Thank you!


Documents

Susan Ringwood Chief Executive- Beat Helplines Partnership London Nov 14