In this week’s episode, Han is joined by Nicky Smith. Nicky is a member of FEAST and works closely with other family members and carers to advocate for current and emerging eating disorder issues in the UK.

Nicky has presented at conferences, spoken in Parliament, attended exhibitions, and has provided lectures to raise awareness of eating disorders. Nicky has also supported journal and book publications, contributed to NHS commissioning teams and research groups, and has been a parent/carer representative in an Adult Eating Disorder service collaborative Trust.

Nicky’s daughter has had anorexia for 12 years, so unfortunately Nicky has developed extensive experience from adolescent and adult eating disorder services including inpatient, community, out-of-area placements, sectioning under the Mental Health Act, nasogastric feeding, SEDU, acute mental health and general hospital admissions.

This week, we discuss:

• Nicky's experience of supporting her daughter in a range of treatment settings whilst navigating anorexia nervosa.
• The impact of movement around services on Nicky and her family.
• The need for specialist support for eating disorder patients to provide effective care.
• The experience Nicky and her daughter have had of the Mental Health Act and nasogastric tube feeding.
• Navigating conversations with others who don't have experience of eating disorders and struggle to comprehend the disorder.
• The difference between treatment for a physical and mental illness, and how this needs to differ for effective treatment.
• Exploring the reasons palliative care for eating disorders is inappropriate.
• Holding onto hope even when things get tough.

Kindly note, that this episode delves into sensitive eating disorder topics. Remember to take care of yourself while listening, and always seek professional help if needed. This podcast is your bridge to insightful discussions, not a substitute for clinical guidance.