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Support for autistic children with an eating disorder
03/03/2023
The service has been developed in partnership with local autistic young people
Autistic children and young people with an eating disorder can now take advantage of tailored support from a programme called PEACE – the Pathway for Eating disorders and Autism developed from Clinical Experience. Its running in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
PEACE aims to promote awareness and tailored support for autistic youngsters with eating disorders and those who may be autistic, working directly with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. They will also work directly with a small number of children, young people and families.
Guided by the latest research, the service has been developed in partnership with local autistic young people who have experienced an eating disorder, alongside their families, carers and mental health professionals.
Autistic people are much more likely than neurotypical people to develop an eating disorder and can have poorer outcomes and experiences. Around 23% of people with an eating disorder are autistic and approximately 16% of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa are autistic.
PEACE is led by Oxford Health and was launched as a three-year project.
Oxford Health’s clinical lead Jo Holliday said: “This is a really exciting development in the care of people with eating disorders and will make such an invaluable difference to the lives of autistic people.
“Traditional eating disorder approaches have not always met the needs of autistic people. Now the PEACE service is being co-produced with young people with autism and eating disorders to make sure everyone has the right access to individualised care and treatment…
“We are now offering staff consultations on cases as the first point of support, along with training for clinician about identifying the signs of an eating disorder and autism in young people and how best to adapt their approach and treatment to suit the needs of the patient.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam