New Lifeline for Carers

Press Information

20th May 2011

Lifeline for eating disorder carers

Beat – the leading campaigning UK eating disorders charity has launched a dedicated website 'The Carers Forum' for carers of people affected by an eating disorder.

The illnesses - serious psychiatric conditions, currently estimated to affect 1.6million people across the UK have a significant and often severe impact on not only the sufferer, but those close to them. Parents, siblings, extended family and even friends are often left feeling isolated, bewildered and helpless.

The Carers' Forum is a completely new website providing message boards, an online 'chat' facility and a carers' blog as well as a range of interactive facilities, enabling carers to connect with and support each other.

Offering a wealth of information for carers; tips on how to talk to someone suffering, issues around mealtimes and dealing with professionals, the site's future development will be heavily influenced by Beat's service users. The Carers' Ambassador Scheme – launched in conjunction with the website will also offer the opportunity to get involved with awareness raising, media work and providing online support to other carers.

Beat Chief Executive Susan Ringwood: "We are delighted that this much anticipated resource has been launched. We know how valuable it can be for carers to communicate with each other – sharing knowledge and each others' problems".

Partner Ian from Cheshire: "It was not until my partner was recovered from her eating disorder that I found Beat and the support it is able to offer. For me a simple forum, phone line or live chat facility would have been a huge help, especially at times of frustration where I felt I was just hitting a brick wall in the process. From my experience I spent a long time researching the illnesses and the effects they have on a person - it would have been very helpful to me to have just found one website that had all the information or links to information that I needed. The Beat site provides this in a user friendly manner."
www.b-eat-carers.co.uk

ends

Further info:
Mary George Press Officer: 0300 123 7061; e-m: media@b-eat.co.uk

Notes for editors:-
Beat's national helplines receive 50% of their calls from carers and the organisation had direct contact with over 250,000 people over the past year.