My son is 24. He has had a difficult life so far: became unable to attend school in Yr9, no qualifications, on UC (work capacity assessment states not required to look for work), chronic anxiety since childhood, used to have EHCP, but that was never pursued once he left education (despite my efforts to get it back on track), totally isolated, almost certainly neurodiverse (father and brother both diagnosed), but seems to be on endless waiting list for assessment.
I have provided the context above because this is the context in which his eating disorder has emerged and by which it is complicated. His ED is bulimia but involves massive overexercise (speed-walking for hours, often in remote areas) and purging. He lives with me. I will not give his exact weight, but he is underweight.
My problem is that I cannot help him, and I just feel his very real needs are not being taken seriously. I call the community mental health team. They phone him, He is referred to the ED Team. He may be unable to attend weighing and blood test sessions often due to his rigid routines, so the services end. I call the teams again, make GP appointments, a phone call is given in return. My son may attend a few appointments. The the service ends. There is no attempt to push further for assessment, offer help or even medication for the overwhelming anxiety, coordinate with OT or social services to see if there is any way that he can be helped to engage in society.
I apologise for this rant, but was just wondering if the mental health services and services for people with ED and complex needs is really so dire, or whether my son has just been unlucky.