Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to speak about the important issue of eating disorders. I mention that this is international eating disorders awareness week, a week providing information around eating disorders. I refer to the correlation with Covid-19 over the past 12 months. We are aware from a recently published article that sadly there has been a sharp increase in admissions for eating disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. Bodywhys has provided good information over the week and I recommend that anybody impacted by eating disorders, whether it is oneself, a family member or a friend, look at the website and webinars. The telephone number is 01 2107906.

We are talking about eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia and binge eating. They affect up to 5% of the population at some point in their lives and are not primarily about food but about body image. They are linked with a feeling of loss of control over other aspects of one’s life. They can be seen as a way of coping with a type of emotional stress which is characterised by self-starvation, purging and bingeing. It can be both physically and emotionally destructive and causes huge stress, not just for the individual but for family members and friends. Sometimes it is acknowledged and sometimes it is not.

An article published in January’s edition of the Irish Medical Journalnoted a 66% increase in hospital admissions for eating disorders in 2020 compared to 2019, which is a huge jump. Almost half of the eating disorder referrals seen during the pandemic came in the last three months of 2020 to just one adolescent service.Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric issue. Therefore, these statistics are very concerning. The authors of this report noted factors such as distress and anxiety related to the pandemic. The interplay of social and economic factors and the impact of restrictions can account for this huge rise.

Since eating disorders span the mental and physical health services, a specialised, integrated approach is vital. There are no emergency services in paediatric psychiatry in Ireland, which needs to change. The HSE has recommended creating 16 specialist hubs around the country as the ideal model of care. We need to see this rolled out in all our hospitals to provide more beds for sufferers of this disease. According to recent media reports, the national eating disorder plan looks set to be delayed by almost four years. That is just not acceptable.

We know and appreciate that resources are stretched to the limit in the health service but eating disorders have the highest morbidity rate of any of the mental health disorders. Reports from professionals working in the area indicate they do not feel well supported in terms of training, resources and supervision. It is also of note that only about 5% to 15% of people with eating disorders seek help. Early intervention and treatment are vital for their recovery.