Eating disorders have, unusually, made the news a fair bit during the course of the pandemic, which – perhaps unsurprisingly – has seen a rise in eating disorders. And while the official stats aren’t available as yet, professionals are also reporting a surge in self-harming behaviour, not just in adults, but also among children, some as young as eight.

Mickey and journalist Kelly Welles chat about their personal experiences of eating disorders and self-harm, and how Kelly channelled her depression, anxiety and self-harming behaviour into her debut fiction The Fear. (And managed to make it funny.)

If you or someone you know needs help, beateatingdisorders.org.uk is a good resource, Mind.org.uk is brilliant on, well, loads of stuff, including eating disorders, self-harm and suicide ideation, and Harmless.org.uk provides advice around self-harm.

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SIM Ep 493 Chops 202: Eating Disorders, self harm and The Fear