Eating disorders in school
Dr Tina Rae
My talk will highlight how school-based staff can and do respond to the issue of eating disorders at both a preventative and reactive level. I will highlight the need for appropriate training in eating disorders and body image, information sharing, multiagency working, access to emotionally available adults and well-being interventions which promote both resilience and autonomy.
Key takeaways
• staff training for the whole team is an essential to ensure confidence and that systems for both identification and intervention are in place
• prevention at a whole school level needs to be achieved by a delivery of media literacy and well-being curricula which promotes both resilience and autonomy
• supporting children and young people to develop healthy body habits, media awareness, digital detox strategies, and skills of effective thinking or cognitive restructuring is a must
• developing the role of the emotionally available adult including that of the mental health support assistant, is key to ensuring appropriate support for eating disorders in schools
• screening on transition via the designated mental health lead in order to identify those at risk or currently with eating disorders and setting up of safety plans needs to be standard
• destigmatising and promoting hope should also be paramount
• there are a wealth of resources and evidence-based interventions out there to incorporate into the whole school approaches - in other words you do not have to reinvent the wheel!

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