Help by telephone, e-mail and text

How we can help

There are a number of ways that you can contact us for help and support. People have often told us that they were really worried about contacting us but were pleased when they did.

We don't judge you or tell you that you have to stop, we understand how hard things can be for you. We listen to what you have to say, offer suggestions that might help, give you information about eating disorders and help to support you if you are struggling.

Ways to contact:

Phone 0845 634 7650*

E-mail fyp@b-eat.co.uk 

Text 07786 20 18 20**

Online 1-2-1 chat

Opening times:

Monday to Friday 4:30pm - 8:30pm
Saturdays 1:00pm - 4:30pm
Sunday ~ Closed
Bank Holidays 11:30am - 2:30pm

beat endeavours to respond to all e-mails within 7  days.

For the non-hearing or hard of hearing text to voice relay is available through Typetalk calls.

Textphone users:
Typetalk Switchboard: 1 8001 0151 709 94 94
Email: typetalk: helpline@rnid-typetalk.org.uk

Hearing users:
Switchboard: 1 8001 0151 709 94 94

If English is not your first language the helpline & youthline can obtain an interpreter for you through Language Line.

We are open 4:30pm - 8:30pm weekdays and 1pm - 4:30pm Saturdays. Closed Sundays and open 11:30am - 2:30pm Bank Holidays

To request us to call you back, text callback and your name to 07786201820**

*calls are charged at local rate (as if you were calling someone down your street)

**Standard Text Messaging Rates apply.

Why do people call the youthline?

Young people can be nervous about calling the youthline but when they find the courage to call, they often feel relieved and pleased to know that the youthline team are friendly and not at all scary to talk to.

One of our Young Ambassadors thought it might be helpful for you to have an idea about why young people call the youthline and what they want to talk about:

• For support
  

It could be that you have an eating disorder or concerns about your relationship with food and that it helps to talk through your feelings and get support from the youthline team.

• Concerns about a friend, family member or housemate
  

You might have questions about how to support your friend, family member or housemate.  You might want to find out why they are acting the way they are, how to cope with the behaviour they may be displaying or to talk through your worries about them.

• Questions about eating disorders
  

You could call to get information about eating disorders and why they develop.

• Someone may have told you to ring
  

A friend or someone else may have suggested that you call to talk through the way you are feeling. It could be that they have concerns about your eating pattern and it can be helpful for you to work out whether there is a problem.

• You don’t know
  

It might be that you don’t know why you are calling.  It might be that you just need someone to help sort out your thoughts and help you feel less confused about the way you feel.

Ideas of what to say when you first call...

• I just wanted to talk to someone…
  
• Can I talk to you about my eating?
  
• I think I have an eating disorder…
  
• I think I have a problem with my eating…
  
• Other people think I have an eating disorder…
  
• Someone suggested that I call you…
  
• I’m finding it difficult to cope with my eating…
  
• I’m concerned about my friend/family member/housemate…

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is essential to the services beat provides.  But sometimes there are some circumstances where it may be necessary to break confidentiality. These are if there is a danger to the caller or others in their care (ie Child Protection issues).

It is very rare for us to consider or indeed decide to break a service user's confidentiality.

If we do have to break Confidentiality

• You will be informed
• The reasons why the decision has been made will be explained
• The possible repercussions of breaking confidentiality will be explained.

Please contact us if you have any questions.