The Family Files
Insight and inspiration for your family’s mental wealth.
These short articles are designed to help you to build your family’s mental health and wellbeing. They draw upon evidence-based information, and apply it to real life situations that we experience in our families. Our initial focus is on eating disorders, but the principles underlying these articles apply to a wide range of mental health issues.
The ABCDE tool for spotting signs of an eating disorder
by Nick Pollard BSc (Psych), MBPsS, FRSA. “I hid the early signs from my parents, but my friends would have noticed if only they had known what to look out for, and how to help me.” (Dr Elizabeth McNaught). Those are the words of my daughter, who is now a hospital doctor but who had… Continue reading The ABCDE tool for spotting signs of an eating disorder
The hidden cost of childhood mental illness to the families that care for us
by Dr Elizabeth McNaught MBBS. Laying in a hospital bed, aged 14, after an emergency admission to deal with the life-threatening effects of Anorexia Nervosa, I was relieved to see my Dad come through the door to the ward. He’d been away on business but had dropped everything and travelled back to be with me.… Continue reading The hidden cost of childhood mental illness to the families that care for us
How could I have let this happen?
Nick Pollard BSc (Psych), MBPsS, FRSA. Feelings of guilt and shame filled my mind as I looked at my 14 year old daughter laid in a hospital bed, following an emergency admission due to the life-threatening effects of Anorexia Nervosa. My wife had tried to help me see how ill Lizzie was becoming, but I… Continue reading How could I have let this happen?
The Anorexia that stole Christmas
Nick Pollard BSc (Psych), MBPsS, FRSA. Christmas is a special time for many families. But it can cause overwhelming feelings of anxiety and guilt for any family members with an eating disorder. Although they may have happy memories of Christmas-past, they dread facing the food challenges of Christmas-future. I vividly remember this from my own… Continue reading The Anorexia that stole Christmas