The activities were planned to help raise awareness, bust myths and to support eating disorder charity Beat’s #LetsBeatThis campaign. Service users initially got together to plan the events and to hold a facilitated discussion around their lived experience of life with an eating disorder. They reflected together on the impact an eating disorder can have on everyday life and on personal identity.
In addition service users discussed some of the myths and stigma surrounding eating disorders and created poems and blogs about their experience. Service users also had the opportunity to interview staff about their experience of working in the eating disorder field. At the end of the week a special newsletter was produced.
“Every person has their own story and symptoms and it’s so important for it to be recognised as a genuine illness and caught early. Recent events in the media have shown the impact media can have on someone and the importance of saying help when you need it and not put up a wall.”Service user, Sunrise Ward
Finally, on the last day of the week, everyone was encouraged to wear their brightest, most colourful socks in order to say ‘Sock It’ to eating disorders.