The child and adolescent psychiatry unit at Mälarsjukhuset in Eskilstuna, Sweden, has started day care for eating disorders. This reduces the need for families to travel to Nyköping hospital for such care. For several years, young people in Sörmland with eating disorders could only receive day care at Nyköping hospital.
The region has now trained more staff, enabling day care to be offered again at Mälarsjukhuset. Day care for eating disorders involves patients coming to the clinic during the day for help with meals and treatment but sleeping at home. The focus is on practicing eating with trained staff in a safe and structured environment.
The child and adolescent psychiatric intensive care unit offers acute interventions and shorter, more intensive and flexible treatment periods for children and young people with eating disorders. The operation is in a build-up phase, and the unit manager describes the future as hopeful. However, a shortage of personnel remains a major challenge.
It is difficult to recruit staff to child and adolescent psychiatry, not just in Sörmland but across the country, with a pressing need for psychologists and nurses. For those under 18, help can be sought through a health center, youth clinic, school health service, or child and adolescent psychiatry where they live. Adults can book an appointment at a health center, psychiatric clinic, or occupational health service.
People up to 20–25 years old can also contact a youth clinic. In more regions, there are special eating disorder clinics; some require a referral from school health or a health center, while others allow self-referral. Assistance in finding care is available by calling 1177.
Various associations also offer support via phone, chat, or email, such as Frisk och Fri (the National Association Against Eating Disorders) or the association Shedo, which specializes in both eating disorders and self-harm behavior.