‘The earlier we can help someone with an eating disorder, the greater the chances of recovery’
SUPPORT: Charliee Terry, FREED Champion
By Rick Lyon
A treatment service in Hull is helping young adults experiencing the early stages of an eating disorder to tackle it quickly and prevent it becoming a bigger problem.
FREED [First Episode Rapid Early Intervention] is focused on getting young people aged 18 to 25 into treatment as soon as possible and is tailored to address triggering issues commonly facing young adults.
These include moving out of home to go to university and the pressures presented by social media.
It is run by Evolve, Hull Community Eating Disorder Service, part of City Health Care Partnership [CHCP], and provides evidence-based treatments for the early stages of eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
FREED is a national programme rolled out in eating disorder services across the country, which Evolve implemented in August 2021 as an additional pathway.
The holistic service offers psychological interventions, one-to-one and group therapy sessions along with medical monitoring as required, understanding that each individual has their own particular needs.
Charliee Terry, FREED Champion based at the Calvert Centre in Hull, said: “Our whole treatment depends on what the individual needs.
“We give the patients choice and it’s tailored completely around their presentation.”
Charliee, who assesses the suitability of patients being eligible for FREED, describes it as a “very busy” service.
Evolve has a wider multi-disciplinary team, providing treatment for adults aged 18 and over. Charliee leads on the FREED pathway specifically tailored for people aged 18 to 25.
“It’s about engaging with these young people and understanding the specific challenges they face and how these impact on them and their eating disorder” she said.
“In order to meet the FREED criteria, people have to have experienced their eating disorder for less then three years. This is so we intervene and treat the individual as soon as possible and reverse the brain changes an eating disorder can cause.
“People don’t need to meet diagnostic criteria to come into the service or the FREED pathway, we want to prevent people from reaching this point if possible. People who have had an eating disorder for longer then three years can still access effective treatment as usual.
TREATMENT: Charliee Terry at Hull’s Calvert Centre
“We want to catch them early enough that we can help stop their eating behaviours becoming an eating disorder, and promote higher chances of recovery for those who do meet a diagnosis.
“It’s a very welcoming, warm, accessible and flexible service.”
The FREED pathway and standard pathway at Evolve accepts self-referrals, so anyone in need of support doesn’t have to be referred by a GP or hospital. That means they don’t have to talk to anyone else about their problem before contacting the service.
Outpatient appointments are held face to face, virtually and are flexible to meet the individual’s needs. Evolve also provides a day service for people who need more intensive treatment.
A key feature of the FREED pathway is also that patients have access to a support phone to contact Charliee directly if required. It is designed is to promote engagement levels and break down communication barriers.
She said: “They can text or ring me at any time outside of appointments if they’re struggling. It’s about breaking down barriers and the patients have found it really useful.”
Charliee said the service, which launched last August, has been very successful and the team now want to raise awareness in order to help more people.
“We’ve had excellent feedback from patients and their families,” she said.
“A lot of them can’t believe how quickly they’ve been seen. We see everyone for an assessment as soon as possible. Treatment then starts within four weeks of the referral being made.
“Patients have been engaging really well with the treatment and those who’ve finished their treatment have had really positive outcomes.
“At Evolve we’re here to help and if anyone is in any doubt that they may have an eating disorder, I’d encourage them to take that step forward and get in touch with us.
“The earlier we can get involved, the greater their chances of recovery.”
To find out more about Evolve, visit https://www.chcpcic.org.uk/chcp-services/evolve or email chcp.evolveeatingdisorders@nhs.net, call 01482 344083 or text Evolve to 6182. For more information on FREED, visit https://freedfromed.co.uk/