FREED is First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders. It is a service for 16 to 25-year-olds who have had an eating disorder for three years or less.
Young people getting help for their eating disorder through FREED are given rapid access to specialised treatment which gives special attention to challenges we know young people face during these years of their life, and in the early stages of an eating disorder.
FREED is a flexible evidence-based treatment approach focused on early intervention; making it much more effective than traditional treatments at reversing the changes to brain, body and behaviour caused by eating disorders.
The FREED service was developed and tested by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust Foundation’s Eating Disorders Unit and King’s College London. When FREED was compared with “business as usual”, FREED reduced the amount of time an eating disorder was left untreated. FREED patients waited less time for assessment and treatment and had better treatment outcomes. Most made a full recovery from their eating disorder within one year. Using the FREED service was a positive experience for patients, carers and staff.
FREED confirmed that treating people as early as possible leads to better results for eating disorder treatment.
In 2016, FREED was introduced to three new eating disorder services in the UK. In 2018, FREED is being introduced to eight new services. By 2020, we hope that at least 20 services will be using FREED. Work is also being done to establish FREED in Australia.
People sometimes ask why FREED is only for those aged 16 to 25 with an eating disorder of up to three years. If someone has only been unwell for a short time treatment seems to work better. This is most true during adolescence and young adulthood. People with eating disorders also experience changes to their brain, body and behaviour. In the first three years of illness these changes are more easily reversed.
Eventually, we hope that everyone with an eating disorder will be able to access tailored, specialist treatment quickly. FREED is one step towards this goal.
“If it wasn’t for FREED’s rapid intervention, I would not have been well enough to pursue my dream of going to university. It makes me emotional to think how much my life has changed in one year of treatment. The steps have been small, but each step has brought me closer to, as well as made me feel I am worth, recovery.”
The sooner you seek support, the sooner things can start to get better. We can help you find the right option for you.
Don’t want to use the tool? Download our guide to seeking help and support for more general information and advice.
Congratulations on being ready to seek help! FREED is available at your local eating disorder service – the Maudsley Eating Disorder Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Please see the service website.Congratulations on being ready to seek help! FREED is available for adults of all ages at your local eating disorder service – the Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. Please see the service website.Congratulations on being ready to seek help! FREED is available for 18 to 30-year-olds at your local eating disorder services – the Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders and West Yorkshire and Harrogate Adult Eating Disorders Service, part of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Please see the service website.Congratulations on being ready to seek help! FREED is available for 16 to 25-year-olds at your local eating disorder service – the Gloucestershire Eating Disorders Service, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, based in Cheltenham. Please see the service website.Congratulations on being ready to seek help! FREED is available for 16 to 25-year-olds at your local eating disorder service – the Specialist Eating Disorder Service, Forward Thinking Birmingham. Please see the service website.Congratulations on being ready to seek help! FREED is available for 18 to 25-year-olds at your local eating disorder service – the STEPS Eating Disorder Service, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Please see the service website.
Here are our top tips:
Book a GP appointment. Your GP will be the one to refer you to the Maudsley Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service website.Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service website.Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders or the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Adult Eating Disorders Service. Please see the service website.Gloucestershire Eating Disorders Service, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust. Please see the service website.Specialist Eating Disorder Service, Forward Thinking Birmingham. Please see the service website.STEPS Eating Disorder Service. STEPS Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service website.
Tell someone you trust about your difficulties. If you feel able to, ask them to come with you to see your GP.
Think about what you will tell your doctor and what you will ask them for. We recommend telling them that you’ve visited our webpage and asking them to refer you for eating disorder treatment. You may want to write things down to take with you.
Read our guide to help & support for more information on what happens in eating disorder treatment and self-help options while you’re waiting.
People sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. Treatment is more effective if you get help early. You don’t have to get sicker before you start to get better.
Visit the Beat website for further tips on talking to your GP and for online support options.
Remember – you can recover, you are not alone. The sooner you seek help, the sooner things can start to get better.
Congratulations on being ready to seek help!
We know it can be really hard to reach out. Feelings like anxiety, embarrassment or shame can sometimes get in the way of talking about eating difficulties.
Here are our top tips:
Book a GP appointment. Your GP can refer you to your local eating disorder service. If FREED isn’t available at your local service, you will still see someone who is used to working with young people just like you.
Tell someone you trust about your difficulties. If you feel able to, ask them to come with you to see your GP.
Think about what you will tell your doctor and what you will ask them for. We recommend telling them that you’ve visited our webpage and asking them to refer you for eating disorder treatment. You may want to write things down to take with you.
Read our guide to help & support for more information on what happens in eating disorder treatment and self-help options while you’re waiting.
People sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. You shouldn’t have to get sicker before you start to get better.
Visit the Beat website for further tips on talking to your GP and for online support options.
Remember – you can recover, you are not alone. The sooner you seek help, the sooner things can start to get better.
FREED is available at your local eating disorder service – the Maudsley Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service website.Vincent Square Eating Disorder ServiceYorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders or the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Adult Eating Disorders Service. Please see the service website.Gloucestershire Eating Disorders Service, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust. Please see the service website.Specialist Eating Disorder Service, Forward Thinking Birmingham. Please see the service website.STEPS Eating Disorder Service. STEPS Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service website.
Worrying about someone you care about is hard for you and your relationship. If you haven’t already, you may want to use the following sections for advice on how to approach the person you care about:
Trust your instincts. You know your loved one best – if you are concerned, don’t watch and wait.
Here are our top tips for supporting your loved one and looking after yourself:
Help your loved one to book a GP appointment. Their GP will be the one to refer them for treatment.
Offer to go with them to the GP.
Help them to think about what they will say to their doctor. We recommend that they ask for a referral for eating disorder treatment. Writing some notes may be useful.
Read our guide to help & support for more information on what happens in eating disorder treatment and self-help options while waiting.
People sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. Treatment is more effective if you get help early. You don’t have to get sicker before you start to get better. Reassure your loved one that they deserve treatment and that they can change.
Visit the Beat website for further tips on seeking help, and for online support options for both you and your loved one.
If your loved one isn’t ready to seek help yet, you could direct them to this website. You may also want to use the online support options that Beat provides for carers.
Other top tips include:
Reassure your loved one that things can change.
If you are concerned about their physical health, seek advice from your own GP.
Worrying about someone you care about is hard for you and your relationship. If you haven’t already, you may want to use the following sections for advice on how to approach the person you care about:
Trust your instincts. You know your loved one best – if you are concerned, don’t watch and wait.
Here are our top tips for supporting your loved one and looking after yourself:
Help your loved one to book a GP appointment. Their GP will be the one to refer them for treatment.
Offer to go with them to the GP.
Help them to think about what they will say to their doctor. We recommend that they ask for a referral for eating disorder treatment. Writing some notes may be useful.
Read our guide to help & support for more information on what happens in eating disorder treatment and self-help options while waiting.
People sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. Treatment is more effective if you get help early. You don’t have to get sicker before you start to get better. Reassure your loved one that they deserve treatment and that they can change.
Visit the Beat website for further tips on seeking help, and for online support options for both you and your loved one.
If your loved one isn’t ready to seek help yet, you could direct them to this website. You may also want to use the online support options that Beat provides for carers.
Other top tips include:
Reassure your loved one that things can change.
If you are concerned about their physical health, seek advice from your own GP.
We know it can be really hard to reach out for help. Feelings like anxiety, embarrassment or shame can sometimes get in the way of talking about eating difficulties. You might also feel uncertain about whether you have a problem or want to change.
Any small steps you can take to start seeking help are worthwhile. You deserve support.
Here are our top tips:
Tell someone you trust about your difficulties. This can be a friend, family member, teacher or colleague, or your GP.
If you haven’t already, complete our quiz ‘Do I have An Eating Disorder?’ and read more about eating disorders and early intervention.
Read our guide to help & support for more information on what happens in eating disorder treatment and self-help options you can use yourself.
Remember that attending an assessment appointment at an eating disorder service can be another way of deciding if you want treatment. It doesn’t mean you have to start treatment or change straight away.
If you feel able to, book a GP appointment. Your GP will be the one to refer you if you decide to pursue treatment.
Think about what you will tell your doctor and what you will ask them for. We recommend telling them that you’ve visited our webpage. When you feel ready, you can ask them to refer you for eating disorder treatment. You may want to write things down to take with you.
If you’re not sure about seeking specialist help at this stage, you may still want to make an appointment with your GP for a physical check-up.
People sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. You shouldn’t have to get sicker before you start to get better.
Visit the Beat website for online support options.
Remember – you can recover, you are not alone. The sooner you seek help, the sooner things can start to get better.
We know it can be really hard to reach out for help. Feelings like anxiety, embarrassment or shame can sometimes get in the way of talking about eating difficulties. You might also feel uncertain about whether you have a problem or want to change.
Any small steps you can take to start seeking help are worthwhile. You deserve support.
Here are our top tips:
Tell someone you trust about your difficulties. This can be a friend, family member, teacher or colleague, or your GP.
If you haven’t already, complete our quiz ‘Do I have An Eating Disorder?’ and read more about eating disorders and early intervention.
Read our guide to help & support for more information on what happens in eating disorder treatment and self-help options you can use yourself.
Remember that attending an assessment appointment at an eating disorder service can be another way of deciding if you want treatment. It doesn’t mean you have to start treatment or change straight away.
If you feel able to, book a GP appointment. Your GP will be the one to refer you if you decide to pursue treatment.
Think about what you will tell your doctor and what you will ask them for. We recommend telling them that you’ve visited our webpage. When you feel ready, you can ask them to refer you for eating disorder treatment. You may want to write things down to take with you.
If you’re not sure about seeking specialist help at this stage, you may still want to make an appointment with your GP for a physical check-up.
People sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. You shouldn’t have to get sicker before you start to get better.
Visit the Beat website for online support options.
Remember – you can recover, you are not alone. The sooner you seek help, the sooner things can start to get better.
The sooner someone is referred for eating disorder treatment, the sooner they can start to get better. Don’t watch and wait!
FREED is available at your local eating disorder service – the Maudsley Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service websiteVincent Square Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service websiteYorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders or the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Adult Eating Disorders Service. Please see the service websiteGloucestershire Eating Disorders Service, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust. Please see the service websiteSpecialist Eating Disorder Service, Forward Thinking Birmingham. Please see the service websiteSTEPS Eating Disorder Service. Please see the service website for details on how to refer.
Patients sometimes worry that they won’t be “sick enough” to be referred for treatment. We have worked hard to challenge exclusion criteria. Treatment is more effective if you get help early. Patients don’t have to get sicker before they start to get better.
If you are worried about a patient’s physical health, our medical risk assessment guide may help.
The sooner someone is referred for eating disorder treatment, the sooner they can start to get better. Don’t watch and wait!
FREED is not available in your region, but there will still be local eating disorder treatment options available. If you’re unsure where the local eating disorder service is, Beat have a treatment finder option that can help.
If you are worried about a patient’s physical health, our medical risk assessment guide may help.
