SEDIG Carers’ Conference 2016
The Scottish Eating Disorders Interest Group, SEDIG, held their 2016 Carers’ Conference at The City Chambers in Edinburgh on Saturday 27th February 2016. There was an interesting and varied programme featuring four presentations. The first highlighted B-eat’s initiative in Edinburgh and the Lothians which involves young people with eating disorders going through transitions. Theses can be between services, or perhaps coming to university or college in the Lothian area or just re-locating. This support is proving to be most beneficial, and hopefully it will be available in other parts of Scotland before long. Two B-eat Young Ambassadors, Caitlin and Nicole, also told their personal stories of recovery which were very inspiring.
Our own Mel Stevenson then gave a presentation on a Solution Based Approach which has helped her, and also helped her offer support to someone with an eating disorder. Her ideas gave us all something to think about in our own lives and how this approach could be used in a caring and supportive role.
After lunch, which allows delegates and speakers to chat with one another and meet others in similar situations, the presentations both featured males suffering from eating disorders. Bev Mattocks told the story of her son, a young rugby player and his struggle with anorexia. She has written two books, one telling the story of her son’s illness and recovery Please Eat, and the other When Anorexia Came to Visit. The second book features 20 families who discuss what it was like when anorexia invaded their lives. Both books are available in our library.
The final presentation was from Paul Donald who is one of our trustees, and is also the founder and director of MBEEDS, (Men and Boys Eating and Exercise Disorder Support), and Sam Thomas of MGEDT, (Men Get Eating Disorders Too). They both highlighted the difficulties males face, trying to get a diagnosis and also treatment, and also pointed at the very high volume of hits their websites get.
Carers’ Conferences are excellent sources of information, raise awareness, and provide a great opportunity to meet people who may be in, or have been in similar situations.
