HEALTH MATTERS
EATING Disorder Awareness Week runs from 2nd – 8th March and is all about supporting the 1.25 million people in the UK who live with an eating disorder - and the estimated five million people who help them.
If someone you love has an eating disorder, why not raise funds during this week?
You can sign up by going to fundraising. beateatingdisorders.org. uk/page/54912/data/1
You’ll also be able to use this link to order your resources. It really is this simple and they’ll give you everything you need.
It takes just three steps: 1. Think about what you can do – it doesn’t have to be hard, it can be something that’s good for you, for example exercising more regularly or following a mindfulness course
2. Give yourself a fundraising target – this will give you and your friends something to aim for.
3. Set up a Just Giving page and spread the word.
By following going to www. beateatingdisorders.org. uk/support-services/ helplines, you will be able to find the three different helplines.
These are as follows:
• Helpline - 0808 801 0677
• Studentline - 0808 801 0811
• Youthline - 0808 801 0711
If you know somebody who has an eating disorder or who you think might have an eating disorder, Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity can help you.
On the website (www. beateatingdisorders.org. uk/) you can find information about starting important conversations with someone you’re worried about, how you can help them during their treatment and throughout their wider recovery journey and advice for taking care of your own wellbeing while supporting someone with an eating disorder.
And remember, Beat’s support services are here for you as well as the person you’re caring for.
If you’d like any more information this can be found at www. beateatingdisorders.org. uk/ but remember, mums and dads, families and friends – together we can beat eating disorders.
THE growing gap between rich and poor and the impact on health inequality is the result of ten years of austerity.
This is the conclusion of a recent report and charts the decline in people’s health both physical and mental over the period.
For the first time in a hundred years life expectancy for the poorest, particularly women has fallen.
The Conservative government policy of austerity has, according to the report, had a shocking impact on people’s health and wellbeing.
The report cites the huge cuts to local authorities over the last ten years which has led to councils having to cut or reduce many services.
The closure of Sure Start Centres, set up by the Labour Government in 1999, has impacted on children’s mental, physical health and wellbeing, affecting their lifetime opportunities.
Despite promises from the government of extra cash for adult social care, along with a policy for future funding, this has still not happened.
Indeed the government seems to be reluctant to even start the debate.
Until then local authorities, including Cheshire East, are expected to use council tax to prop up what is a national crisis.
The share of the budget allocated to social care is the biggest area of spend, thus leaving what is left to be spread thinly over other services.
It is evident that a lack of investment in our highways and infrastructure has suffered over the years, resulting in poor road conditions as well as an increasing demand to deal with the effects of climate change and flooding.
The government promised an end to austerity during the election campaign and a commitment to fund social and health care.
To date we have seen neither but without it we could be condemning future generations to a life time of poverty.