Our Helpline is here for anyone affected by an eating disorder - we're here for people of all ages, offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey.
You can contact us by webchat, phone, email, our online support groups, through our social media accounts by letter. Calls to the Helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills.
If you are in a crisis, please look at our emergency contacts list below.
Our Helplines are open 3pm-8pm, Monday to Friday.
To help us support as many people as possible, calls are limited to 30 minutes and webchats to 40 minutes. The advisor will let you know 5 minutes before the end so they can summarise your action plan. Sometimes our lines are busy. If you can't get through immediately, please do try again or try our one-to-one web chat or send us an email.
If you are in need of urgent help or medical advice for yourself or someone else please contact 999 or the Samaritans on 116 123 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. If you are looking for medical advice contact your GP or 111.
Email support for England:help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Email support for Scotland:Scotlandhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Email support for Wales:Waleshelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Email support for Northern Ireland:
NIhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
We aim to reply to emails in 2 working days. At times of high demand it might take slightly longer. You can always use our web chat if you need a quicker reply.
“I've had great experiences when using Beat's Helpline services. The people I have personally spoken to have been very empathetic with all of my needs in my most challenging times.”
If you contact our Helpline you will speak to a trained advisor experienced in providing support, information and signposting to people in a similar situation to you. Our helpline is action focused, giving you a space to explore your concerns and identify next steps.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to use our Helpline
Our eating disorder Helpline advisors are trained to:
To help us support as many people as possible, calls are limited to 30 minutes. The advisor will let you know 5 minutes before the end so they can summarise your action plan. Sometimes our lines are busy.
Please note that some telephone network providers may automatically disconnect calls after around two hours. This includes time spent waiting in the queue and speaking with an advisor.
If your call is disconnected, please call us back and we will continue to support you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you can contact us by email or web chat.
Yes. Confidentiality is fundamental to Beat’s services. However, there are exceptional circumstances where we may pass on information:
Support contacts may be monitored to ensure quality and consistency.
Beat is a member of Language Line and can provide access to an interpreter on the phone for callers whose first language is not English. Support can also be requested in Welsh.
Beat offers support to those in prison via its freephone telephone Helpline and also via post.
Letters should be addressed and sent to:
FAO Helpline Beat Unit 1 Chalk Hill House 19 Rosary Road Norwich Norfolk NR1 1SZ
"I rang the Helpline because I was struggling so much, but the lady I spoke to was so lovely and listened to me. Without the Helpline, I wouldn't have been able to make the step to tell services and get the help I needed."
We provide helplines for people of all ages, offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey. Note that we do not operate a crisis service and we are not medically trained. If you do require emergency support, please contact one of the services below.
If you, or a loved one, are currently receiving support from a mental health team or eating disorder service, you/they may have a personalised care plan which should include details of your/their local community mental health team and/or what to do if you are in crisis.
You/they can also contact 111. They will be able to tell you which service you can contact, or you may be able to speak to a nurse, mental health nurse or another healthcare professional. Note that those with hearing loss can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) service.
Papyrus offer a dedicated telephone service with non-judgmental support, practical advice, and information, available to anyone up to the age of 35 who is concerned about their emotional wellbeing, as well as anyone worried about a young person (aged 35 and under).
You can access their website here: Papyrus website or contact the Hopeline directly on 0800 068 4141.
Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
You can find their website here: Shout website or text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258.
Samaritans are a listening service dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide. They are open 24 hours a day.
Their website can be found here: Samaritans website or you can contact them directly on 116 123.
A helpline and chat service supporting those with thoughts of suicide. They are open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year.
Their website can be found here: CALM website or you can contact them directly on 0800 58 58 58.
111/999
111 is for anyone who may need medical help and advice but who are not in a life-threatening situation.
999 is for life-threatening emergencies. If you cannot call 999, you should attend your local A&E department.
Your GP can support you with a range of physical and mental health challenges.
For England: NHS website
For Scotland: NHS Inform website
For Wales: NHS website
For Northern Ireland: NHS website
We're here to help - learn more about what to expect when calling the Beat Helpline for eating disorder support.
We've got lots of downloadable resources on our website, whether you have an eating disorder or are supporting someone with one.
Looking for local support and treatment for an eating disorder?
Written by our supporters, our blogs cover real life experiences of eating disorder recovery
Beat is a member of the Helplines Partnership, the membership body for organisations that provide Helplines in the UK and internationally.
Calls to this helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills.