Ashton mental health service lands award for eating disorder programme

Mental health service Breathe Therapies has won an award for a programme that helps people with eating disorders.

The Ashton-on-Ribble service won the 2021 Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Health and Wellbeing Awards, held at the East Wintergarden Hotel in London on 21 October.

They were nominated and won the Healthier Lifestyles award for their Footsteps Eating Disorder Recovery Programme.

Shelley Perry, Clinical Director and RMN of Breathe Therapies, said: “It’s a true honour to have been shortlisted for the category of Healthier Lifestyles.

“Breathe Therapies aims to reduce the impact of eating disorders on individuals through our innovative early intervention programme. It’s so encouraging for the team to have our hard work recognised!”

The award recognises the effectiveness of projects and programmes that improve the lifestyles of the most vulnerable and supports people to make healthier lifestyle choices.

The Footsteps recovery programme was designed by the Clinical Director at Breathe Therapies. Breathe said the programme was titled ‘Footsteps’ to signify the journey to recovery.

Operating in a complex and often misunderstood environment, the programme provides accessible bespoke support. It boosts clinical efficiency for increased therapeutic and client engagement, two-way communication between clients and practitioners, and the monitoring and sharing of clinical outcomes.

The programme is delivered to clients through an online app with 24-7 access and complemented by the client’s recovery coach and specialist dietician for 1-2-1 sessions, either remotely or face to face. The app allows access to real-time support on a day-to-day basis.

Christina Marriott, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “RSPH Health and Wellbeing Awards provide an opportunity for communities, charities and businesses to celebrate their work and the real difference they make to the nation’s health.

“The last 20 months have been incredibly challenging to all of us. Those working to protect the health of their communities have risen magnificently to the challenges and deserve our gratitude.

“I thank all the individuals and organisations working their hardest to deliver at a time when they have never been more needed.”

The programme enables the client to address challenges, work on motivation and develop skills to equip themselves in their recovery. It works with an online app that allows clients to set weekly goals and access food, feelings and thought logs.

Established in 2007, the RSPH Health and Wellbeing Awards celebrate the best practice and achievements of communities, charities and businesses that protect and improve public health.

Assessment criteria are based on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and international declarations that aim for ‘Health for All’.

Graham Rushbrook, Chair of the RSPH Awards Programme, said: “These awards are the kitemark of excellence, and winning one demonstrates the incredible impact an organisation is making in improving the health and wellbeing of people across the UK.

“Many of our finalists and winners report that these awards have helped in securing new funding, building new partnerships and ultimately helping with the long-term sustainability of their many projects and programmes they work on.”

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