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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Fixer Sam Thomas looks back on a successful year raising awareness about male eating disorders.
In 2008 Sam Thomas (24) became a Fixer to raise awareness of male eating disorders. In spring 2009 he set up the website Men Get Eating Disorders Too (www.mengetedstoo.co.uk ) to inform men about anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and exercise disorders like “Bigorexia”.
Since then Sam has continued to push his Fix forward. We are currently supporting him in his venture to make Men Get Eating Disorders Too a national charity. Our Young Person’s Co-ordinator Rhiannon has organised a course of sessions with a life coach who is helping Sam achieve charitable status for his project.
Sam also received great news on the 19th January 2010 that he has been successful in getting funding from the Co-Operative to continue his Peer Support Group for another 6 months.
With Eating Disorder Awareness week (22nd – 26th February) just a few weeks away Fixer Sam takes time out from campaigning to tell us what he’s been up to:
“Since last year’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week the website has received lots of media attention and my project has been keeping me incredibly busy! In April 2009 I went to 5 Live to talk about male eating disorders and was broadcast on Radio 1’s Newsbeat. This directed nearly 1000 visitors to my site that day alone, so hundreds of men affected by eating disorders shared their stories and supported the site.
“In all I have been interviewed on TV for BBC South-East Tonight and BBC Breakfast News and on radio for Heart FM, BBC Sussex, BBC Oxford, BBC Wales, 1xtra and 5 Live.
“Click here to see the links to TV and Media on my site: http://www.mengetedstoo.co.uk/index.php/tv-and-media.html
Lobbying for Awareness
“In Jan 2009 I set up a petition on the Number 10 website to increase service provision for men with eating disorders. At the time there was a worrying lack of support for men with eating disorders, who felt their illness was overlooked because eating disorders are seen as female conditions.
“The petition read: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure men with eating disorders are given the same opportunities for treatment and care as female sufferers and are by no means discriminated against by their doctor / other health practitioner because they are male”
“I had 439 signatures when the petition closed this January. It was supported by Caroline Lucas, MEP for the South-East (Green Party Leader), and Sharon Bowles and Catherine Bearder, MEPs for the South-East (Liberal Democrats); all of whom signed the petition and publicised it on their websites. I also received a letter of support from Phil Hope, Minister of State for Care Services at the Department of Health. The petition qualifies for an official government response, due soon.
Setting up the Peer Support Group
“Last summer I successfully applied for funding to set up a Peer Support Group for men affected by eating disorders in my home city of Brighton and Hove. The Group provides men with a space to share experiences and coping strategies as well as give and receive peer support. Many guys find it difficult to get help in regular eating disorder support groups and very few attend these support groups at all.
“The group has been going really well so far; 7 guys have signed up to the group and the feedback has been excellent. I hope the group will continue to run beyond the pilot, which I am currently fundraising for. Eventually I’d like to set up similar groups for men across the country; as mine is currently the only male-specific group.
What I Plan to do Next
“My next venture is to make Men Get Eating Disorders Too a national charity. ITV Fixers are supporting me in this new goal. I will continue campaigning to raise awareness and lobbying the government to make it easier for men to get much needed help.
“Watch this space…
Sam”
Have a look at Sam’s ITV Fixers website: www.mengetedstoo.co.uk
For more information on Eating Disorder Awareness Week go to http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
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