Helplines
EDA's Support Line | Call 08500 1 22 555 Wednesdays - Fridays 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
EDA’s helplines are here for you to discuss issues about food and eating and initially the reasons why you (or the person you care about) have developed disordered eating or an eating disorder. Parents and carers also call us in distress if they suspect an eating disorder or have had their suspicions confirmed and are unsure of next steps.
Please note that we are not a counselling service, a crisis line or a general mental health organisation and staff will signpost you to helpful alternatives if necessary. As a small team responding to a huge need we ask that you keep your calls to 30 minutes unless you are calling us for the first time, and to refrain from calling multiple times during the day or week, as this prevents other people from getting through for their first call.
Our helplines are run by fully trained members of staff, who have both professional and personal experience of eating disorders.
More about our helplines and other ways to access the support we offer.
Meet the helpline team
Belinda
With personal experience of recovery from eating disorders including Anorexia, Bulimia, binge eating and orthorexia, Belinda offers emotional and practical support to anyone struggling with an eating disorder and to those caring for or supporting someone else. After recovering herself, she qualified as a Nutritional Therapist with a desire to specialise in supporting people with eating disorders.
Mel
Having previously experienced her own difficulties around food and eating, Mel knows how important it was for her to have someone to talk to, who could truly understand. With 5 years of advanced training in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and as a parent of 3 children, Mel offers support and signposting to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, or supporting someone else through one.
Joanna
At 14 years old, Jo’s daughter developed Anorexia followed by Binge Eating Disorder. As a parent with lived experience, Jo can offer support and understanding to both family members caring for a loved one, and to anyone struggling themselves, including many practical strategies and coping techniques. Jo is also a qualified practice nurse and SEN learning assistant.
Rosie
As a teenager, Rosie struggled with OSFED, anorexic, bulimic and bingeing tendencies. Now studying psychology, and currently on placement at an adolescent eating disorders unit, Rosie wants to support others going through a difficult time and to let them know they are not alone. She can offer support on a wide range of issues including bingeing, purging, body image and restriction.
Claire
As a qualified nurse, Claire has past experience caring for patients with an eating disorder in a medical setting. She has also spent time working on the eating disorder ward at the Maudsley Hospital in London. For the past five years, Claire has been on our helplines supporting anyone suffering with an eating disorder and those caring for or concerned about their loved ones. She uses her medical training and knowledge to guide people towards getting the clinical help they often need.
What you can expect from a call with us
- A safe space in which to talk to people who have a professional and personal understanding of eating disorders, including a counsellor and registered nurse
- A service where callers feel able to speak openly about their concerns, knowing that the information is treated confidentially*
- Reassurance and emotional support with a focus on practical guidance and strategies to help you move forward
- An understanding of the services we offer and the additional help and resources we can provide
- Signposting to other organisations and support services
- As a member of the Helplines Partnership, we adhere to nationally recognised best practice standards.
*Your Privacy
We take caller confidentiality very seriously and aim to create a trusting relationship between helpline users and staff. Callers' personal details are not shared with third parties unless consent has been given, and only on a 'need to know' basis. Exceptions to this are detailed in our Confidentiality Policy (see below) and are made only where there is a potential risk to the caller or others and/or where required by law.
Read EDA's Confidentiality Policy
Read EDA's Charter