Number of students needing support for eating disorders doubles in five years
The number of university-aged students needing support for eating disorders in the UK has more than doubled over the last five years, according to a leading charity.
BEAT – which offers support to people over the phone, by text, or email – told Sky News that between April 2023 and March 2024, they delivered 15,120 helpline sessions to 18 to 22-year-olds, up from 6,620 for the same period between 2019 and 2020.
Erin Butler, a student in Birmingham, said she’d suffered a relapse with her eating disorder following her freshers’ week, having struggled with anorexia from the age of 15.
“I think coming to uni, I really wanted to get rid of that part of myself, leave behind the anorexic, sick version of myself and come as a new person”, she said.
The English student, now in her third year, said she wanted to “create a new identity, a fun, go out all the time, really live the uni lifestyle person, but I think trying to hide that part of yourself doesn’t really work – it’ll always be there, it’s always going to come up in some way”.
She returned to her home in County Armagh in Northern Ireland to access treatment via her GP.
She’s certain that the campus lifestyle triggered her anorexia again.
“I think the mixture of managing my finances, managing my own groceries and making sure I was able to make classes on time… all of that combined becomes too much and when you have everything going on in your head as well, it’s really a disaster,” she said.
BEAT spokesperson Tom Quinn
The charity’s director of external affairs Tom Quinn said university is often the time when young people are away from home for the first time.
“It is often a time of anxiety when they are under pressure for a new way of working and studying,” he said.
“They’re meeting new friends, they’re also having to cook for themselves and also do all of this without sort of parental supervision.
“So we think for some people, they are developing an eating disorder for the first time. For others, that eating disorder is getting worse because they don’t have their families around.
“We want universities to be better equipped to spot the signs of eating disorders and help students in their care. We’ve launched our ‘bridging the gap’ training to help with this, but we’re also calling on the government to make sure there is enough treatment available for adults so that they can get the help they need.”
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Universities UK, which represents 141 institutions, said: “There is growing concern about the mental health of young people in the UK including students, with increased demand for university-funded support services.
“Universities have stepped up their efforts, with particular focus on making sure students are aware of the range of services available at their university and via the NHS, and encouraging those with mental health difficulties to access the right support.”
A government spokesperson said: “Lord Darzi’s report exposed the dramatic rise in serious eating disorders, with hospital admissions for eating disorders increasing by 82% since 2019/20.
“We will fix the NHS and ensure those living with the condition are given the support they need, by recruiting an extra 8,500 adult and child mental health staff, investing in community mental health hubs and putting mental health support in every school.”
The King has met survivors of last month’s Huntingdon train mass stabbing, during a special reception at Buckingham Palace.
He shook hands with train guard Samir Zitouni, who was seriously injured as he stepped in to protect passengers.
More than 10 people were hurt in the stabbing on the 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on 1 November, which diverted to Huntingdon.
The King greets the train’s driver, Andrew Johnson. Pic: PA
The monarch also met Andrew Johnson, who previously served in the Royal Navy, and was driving the service at the time of the attack.
He was praised by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his quick thinking when he moved the train on to a slow line.
That decision allowed it to stop at Huntingdon station, leading to a quicker response time by emergency services and potentially saving lives.
Mr Zitouni was credited with saving multiple lives, but was left in a critical condition due to injuries he suffered in the attack.
Stephen Crean, a football fan who had been returning home after watching Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, was also injured while fighting back to protect others during the incident.
Mr Crean said he would need plastic surgery following his injuries.
The monarch greets Stephen Crean and his wife Monludee Crean during the reception. Pic: PA
Amira Ostalski, a student who suddenly found herself in danger, said she ran into the buffet car where she picked up a metal tray to protect herself and her friend.
“I was honestly so petrified. I thought in that moment it was the last time I was ever going to be alive. I thought I was going to die,” she said.
Anthony Williams was charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article following the train attack.
He remains in custody pending further court hearings scheduled for next year.
A nine-year-old girl found dead in Weston-super-Mare has been named on the day police revealed a teenager had been charged with her murder.
Emergency services were called to Lime Close in the Somerset town at 6.09pm on Monday but Aria Thorpe was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said a 15-year-old boy had been charged with her murder and that a preliminary post-mortem found she died from a single stab wound.
The teenage boy – who can’t be named due to his age – will appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court later today.
A police cordon remains in place as forensics officers continue their work.
Flowers and tributes have been left at the scene. Pic: PA
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Superintendent Jen Appleford, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the community was in shock and Aria’s family were being supported by police.
“It is impossible to adequately describe how traumatic the past 36 hours have been for them and we’d like to reiterate in the strongest possible terms their request for privacy,” she said.
Supt Appleford said police were working with local schools and other agencies to make sure support is available.
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