Eating disorders services
Deputy Pringle highlighted the rise in eating disorders and the growing number of young people needing treatment in Donegal. The Minister acknowledged the increase and outlined extra funding and a new adult eating-disorder team.
Anyone who watched the RTÉ documentary "Anorexia, My Family and Me" will have seen the devastating impact of eating disorders. There has been a terrifying rise in eating disorders in this country, and it requires a lot more attention than it is being given. In Donegal, 17 young people in child and adolescent mental health services were being treated for eating disorders in 2020. That number rose significantly to 47 in 2021, and 41 people were being treated in June of last year. This number reflects only those who come forward with their illness and actually manage to get a referral. Many more are unable to get as far as receiving treatment. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has said that the number of people suffering from eating disorders has soared from 60 to 500 in recent years, so why are we so slow to act and get people the treatment they need? Early intervention is key in preventing people from reaching the stage of hospitalisation. Support services can oftentimes be a lifeline to those who use them. We are in desperate need of a review of the model of care for eating disorders. When does the Government plan on delivering this?
Comment on this
I saw that programme as well. It is unquestionable, as the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has said, that we have seen a significant increase in eating disorders. We are able to see the impact that has on the individuals themselves and their families. In April of this year, as Deputy Pringle will know, the Minister of State announced additional funding for the eating disorders programme of €1.3 million, which included €700,000 in funding for a new adult eating disorder team which is based in CHO 7, out of Dublin and Wicklow. This announcement brings the number of eating disorder teams across the country to 12. It has also been announced as part of budget 2025 for mental health services that approximately €1.2 million in funding will be allocated to the national clinical programme for eating disorders, for an additional two teams, which will bring the total number of eating disorder teams nationally to 14. This will include a CAMHS eating disorder team for CHO 3, which is the mid-west.