The theme for the week is ‘All Stories Matter’.
Sub-themes throughout the week will include:
- The stories we hear
- Stories seldom told
- Your stories
- Changing the narrative
- Turning the page
- Re-writing the story
- Authoring your own story
#EDAW2025 will be a space to share and listen to stories about experiences with eating disorders. Whether you have personally faced an eating disorder or have supported a loved one through their journey, each personal story provides valuable insights and perspectives. While we may find similarities in our experiences, the interpretation of those experiences remains individual.
Much like the process of writing or engaging with a story, we encounter revisions, turn pages, confront conflicts, and sometimes find resolutions. Each person’s voice is unique, and it is this variety of voices that we aim to provide space for. If you feel you would like to share your story or listen to the experiences of others, we invite you to join us for a dynamic week of events during #EDAW2025, as we work together to raise awareness.
- Click on the events below to see more information and booking details. If you have issues accessing any of the information below please email Barry on: research@bodywhys.ie for assistance
Monday, 24th February
Join Harriet Parsons, Bodywhys, with Dr. Orla Moore, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist, and Nivard Whelan, Family Therapist, to learn more about what it is, what it isn’t, how it works.
Tuesday, 25th February
This event will address:
- Awareness and understanding of eating disorders
- The signs and symptoms of an eating disorder
- Explain how an eating disorder impacts a person’s life emotionally, psychologically and physically
- Risk factors including negative body image, low self esteem, dieting, exercise, peer pressure
- Recovery and treatment
- How to support a friend
- Support Options
Wednesday, 26th February
Eating Disorders are serious mental health disorders with the highest mortality and morbidity risk of all mental health disorders. Children, adolescents and adults experiencing eating disorders are presenting across a range health care settings. The National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders through its Model of Care aims to improve the quality of care delivery to all those with eating disorders, improving access to assessment and treatment, and improving cost effectiveness. Our National Eating Disorders Webinar 2025 is clinically relevant, evidence based and includes national and international speakers across topical clinical and service related areas.
Who should attend:
This webinar will be suitable for health professionals working with eating disorders.
When: From 9.20am–4.20pm on Wednesday, 26th February
Register: Click on the following link
Programme details and speakers – PDF
Learning Objectives:
- Be aware of up to date eating disorder service developments in Ireland and recent trends of eating disorders.
- Understand family therapy approach for emerging adults with anorexia nervosa
- Recognise importance of bone health in children and adolescents with eating disorders.
- Learn about digestive health and complications in adults with eating disorders.
- Introduction to ARFID in adults
- Learn about key psychological issues for eating disorders in pregnancy
- Be aware of latest developments in digital CBT-E
CPD points: CPD approval College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
Recording: This event will be recorded and circulated widely.
Contact email: ncped@hse.ie
Thursday, 27th February
Kathy Downes (Bodywhys), Dr Niamh McNamara (Nottingham Trent University), Emmy Snelgrove (Lived Experience)
No registration is needed to attend. Participants can simply visit our events page and click the “Join AEA Public Meeting” link 5 minutes before the event starts.
You can find the details here:
For more information email: contact@aeairl.org
Friday, 28th February
Eating Disorders far too often develop quickly into chronic, unremitting patterns of behaviour and thinking that can have a devastating impact on individuals and their families. For the 7 th Irish National Eating Disorders Conference, in conjunction with BODYWHYS, we are pleased to welcome three wonderful speakers (from England and The Netherlands) with a wide range of expertise, both clinically and from a research perspective. The focus of their presentations will be on how early intervention programmes can be utilised in the treatment of eating disorders. There will also be additional presentations from local Irish researchers/clinicians – details to follow.
Saturday, 1st March
Tuesday, 4th March
Wednesday, 5th March
