Eating Disorders
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-09
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. He is quite right that people look at Christmas in different ways. It is a really difficult time For some people. He is also quite right about the unique problems for people with an eating disorder and how they may feel more isolated than ever before.
We have a national clinical programme on eating disorders, which has progressed well, with 16 teams funded, 14 teams up and running and the national roll-out having substantially advanced across some of those teams. Dedicated investment in eating disorders continues and the HSE has spent over €9 million annually on eating disorder services under the clinical programme. It is an area I have prioritised since I came into the role in June 2020. That was a time we had one eating disorder team in place and two others funded, so we have made a lot of progress in relation to eating disorder teams in the community. We now have over 100 clinicians working on eating disorder teams, with eight consultant psychiatrists doing phenomenal work. We did see a huge peak in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially young girls aged 15, 16 and 17 presenting with anorexia nervosa. The demand is there.
The Deputy highlighted how Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for people with an eating disorder and their families for many reasons. For those living with an eating disorder, the festive season often does not bring the same sense of anticipation as it does for others, and it is important that we acknowledge this. The build-up to Christmas, the changes in routine and expectations around socialising and food can contribute to stress, pressure and conflicted thoughts and feelings for people. It is very important that people with an eating disorder who need help reach out to the range of community supports available to them. These include their own care practitioners including their GP and mental health teams and the eating disorder association Bodywhys, which I want to acknowledge. I am very happy to be able to support Bodywhys through the mental health budget. It does a lot of really important work on the interaction between Christmas and eating disorders. The Deputy mentioned Bodywhys Coping at Christmas guide.
For anyone currently supported by an eating disorder team, the HSE has confirmed that all teams will make arrangements with service users and families for days when services are closed. In addition, the HSE Self Care app will have additional guidance on how to manage during Christmas.
Bodywhys has developed two excellent guides and a detailed podcast, led by a psychotherapist, with key information for people, families and carers on how to manage at this time of year. I encourage everyone to consult these guides on the Bodywhys website and will share this information with Deputies as needed.
Bodywhys has also advised the Department of Health that their virtual support groups will meet as normal in December, and that their helpline service remains open over the festive period with the exception of public holidays. If support is needed on these days, yourmentalhealth.ie has full information on emergency and out of hours supports available, including crisis phone and text support. I also direct people, particularly young people, to our new Navigator mental health support, Ireland’s online tool connecting them to personalised mental health information, resources and support.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-09