by Aishlyn Callaghan

During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Bournemouth University organised a range of events to help support the cause with a number of guest speakers and workshops.

The week showed ‘Increased confidence in the topic of eating disorders’ according to James Palfreman-Kay, BU equality and diversity adviser.

The week’s events demonstrated the relationship between BU and the Time to Change Trust which aims to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination.

On Monday and Thursday, a talk on Understanding Eating Disorders by Jess Griffiths, founder of charity I*Eat, looked at the role of the internet and its impact on sufferers as well as what local services provide support. Griffiths started her own charity after suffering an eating disorder herself.

Dr Knightsmith, specialising in supporting self-harm and eating disorders, spoke about the early warning signs of the disorder and how to provide support in her workshop Recognising, Understanding & Responding to eating disorders and self-harm on Tuesday.

On Wednesday several events took place with a talk on male eating disorders from Sam Thomas, founder and charity director of Men Get Eating Disorders Too, who suffered with Bulimia during his teen years. This was followed by a Tea & Talk session, a discussion in Current Issues in Eating Disorders and another talk in Managing Eating Disorders within a School Setting by Bob Hardwick, deputy head teacher at Parkstone Grammar School.

The final event, A war inside my body – battling childhood trauma, was held by Sarah Clark, a 3rd year student at Bournemouth University. She shares her experience with trauma and how it led to her developing anorexia.

James Palfreman-Kay said that the university intends to run a programme of events throughout the year to raise awareness of mental health issues

You can catch up on this weeks events on twitter at #EDWBU15.

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