Ellern Mede

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Ellern Mede

Ellern Mede is a world renowned specialist clinic that provides intensive treatment for children and young people with eating disorders. both NHS and Private.

Ellern Mede Group has UK's most specialised eating disorder treatment centres offering services both to children and young adults, both outpatient and inpatient. The Ellern Mede Group is an Eating Disorder Service dedicated to delivering compassionate and intensive inpatient treatment for young people and young adults. As leaders in high dependency services across the UK, our focus is supporting individuals with the most complex or long-term difficulties. In addition, we provide early intervention and post-discharge support. All our hospitals provide a high dependency intensive treatment programme for the most complex or challenging cases, as well as a range of more general eating disorder programmes. We provide physical and psychiatric re-stabilisation, sufficient to discharge to local Child Adolescent Mental Health Services. All our units are set in grounds where patients can have outdoor activities. We employ first class clinical professionals. Family involvement and group support are key in the recovery treatment process. On site we have an Ofsted registered school who provide tuition up to A level. As well as a varied and stimulating education syllabus, we offer holiday time activities.

12/04/2026

Navigating Events with Food 🤍

Events centred around food - like birthdays, celebrations, or family gatherings - can feel overwhelming when you’re struggling with eating or your mental health. You’re not alone in feeling this way.
Here are some gentle reminders and ideas that might help:

• Have a plan
Think ahead about what might feel challenging and what could support you. This could be knowing what food will be there, bringing something familiar, or planning how long you’d like to stay.

• Take someone you trust
Having a supportive person with you can make a big difference. They can help ground you, distract you, or simply sit alongside you.

• Give yourself permission
You are allowed to take breaks, step outside, or leave early. Looking after yourself is always the priority.

• Use coping strategies
Breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or having a small comfort item can help in overwhelming moments.

• Shift the focus
Try to centre your attention on connection rather than food - conversations, music, or the reason for the gathering.

• Be kind to yourself after
However it goes, remind yourself that you showed up. That’s something to be proud of.

Recovery isn’t about doing everything perfectly - it’s about taking small, manageable steps and finding what works for you.

If events feel particularly difficult, speaking to your care team can help you build a plan that feels safe and supportive.

🤍 You deserve to feel included, supported, and safe.

08/04/2026

Stress can creep in quietly or hit all at once - and sometimes it’s hard to know what actually helps in the moment.

There’s no one-size-fits-all, but sometimes it’s the small things that can make a difference. Slowing your breathing, taking a step back, or just focusing on one thing at a time can help things feel a little more manageable.

You might find it helps to move your body gently, write things down to clear your mind, or talk to someone you trust. Even creating a small calm space around you - whether that’s a quiet room, music, or a blanket - can help you feel more grounded.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to handle everything at once, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Take it one step at a time 🤍

07/04/2026

April is Autism Acceptance Month. It offers a moment to reflect on how autistic people are understood and supported, both within mental health services and more widely.

Autism presents differently in every person, and is not always immediately visible. Real acceptance starts with taking the time to get to know people as individuals, rather than making assumptions based on their diagnosis.

This includes recognising:
• Each person’s strengths
• Preferences
• Ways of engaging with the world
• Alongside the ways the world can sometimes feel overwhelming or out of step

There has been growing awareness and understanding of autism, but there is still more work to be done.

Autistic people are still significantly more likely to experience mental health difficulties:

• Around 70–80% have at least one co-occurring condition
• Higher rates of anxiety, depression and eating disorders
• An increased risk of self-harm and su***de

These difficulties are not simply inherent to autism. They are often shaped by the experience of navigating environments that may be less well aligned to a person’s needs.

In practice, this means being intentional:

• Adapting environments and approaches to the person
• Recognising differences in communication and processing
• Supporting sensory, emotional and cognitive needs in a structured way
• Working with families and wider support networks

For some, the right understanding goes a long way. For others, there is a need for more sustained, carefully planned support, particularly where there has been trauma or unmet needs over time.

Acceptance is not just about recognition or affirmation. It is about understanding people properly and responding in a way that is thoughtful, consistent and grounded in their needs.

02/04/2026

Our team had a really positive experience attending the London Eating Disorders Conference last week. It was a great opportunity to connect, share learning and reflect on how our understanding of eating disorders continues to evolve.

The team came away with a strong sense of the growing need for services like ours that can support individuals with less well understood needs, that often don’t fit neatly into diagnostic categories. We are really proud of our team’s expertise and the role we play in helping people receive highly specialist, person-centred care.

It’s really encouraging to be part of a community committed to learning and improving treatment.

01/04/2026

Lots of creativity happening on the ward lately 🎨

We’ve got a mural in progress (still being worked on and already looking amazing 👀), journaling group getting stuck into designing their own covers, and some very cute Lego pandas and cardboard animals being built 🐼✨

There’s also been some lovely moments of connection - from nail art sessions (including a young person painting nails for herself and a staff member 💅) to crochet projects being worked on 🧶

We’re now getting ready for the Easter holidays with more activities coming up 🌼

30/03/2026

Today is World Bipolar Day 🧠

Bipolar is a complex mental health condition that affects mood, with people experiencing both highs and lows - but it’s so much more than just “mood swings”.

Everyone’s experience is different. Some people may have intense episodes, while others may go through longer periods of feeling stable. What’s important is understanding, not assumptions.

Living with bipolar can be challenging, especially when there’s stigma or misunderstanding. That’s why conversations like this matter.

By building understanding, we can:
• reduce stigma
• create safer, more supportive spaces
• help people feel seen and heard

You are not alone - and support is always available 💚

26/03/2026

This is your reminder: social media isn’t real life.

Most people are sharing a carefully edited version of things, the highlights, not the full picture.

Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.

25/03/2026

Reminders for anyone navigating mental health💜

24/03/2026

Have you watched I Swear yet?

It’s one of those films that stays with you long after it ends. Following a young man living with Tourette’s, it offers such a raw, human perspective, one that challenges assumptions and breaks down stigma.

What really struck us is how it goes beyond awareness. It’s not just about knowing a condition exists, it’s about understanding the lived experience behind it.

Stories like this matter. They shift perceptions, spark empathy, and open the door to more honest conversations around mental health and neurological conditions.

Because representation isn’t just important - it’s powerful. 💭

Have you seen it? We'd love to hear what you thought.

23/03/2026

Understanding complex mental health really matters because everyone’s experiences are different, and the more we get that, the better we can support each other, break down stigma, and actually help people feel seen and understood.

18/03/2026

This Neurodiversity Week, we’re celebrating different minds across Ellern Mede by sharing the importance of sensory spaces.

Our sensory rooms are designed to support individuals in a way that feels safe, calming and responsive to their needs. For many neurodivergent patients, these environments can help reduce overwhelm, support emotional regulation and provide a space to pause, reset and feel more in control.

They are not just spaces for quiet - they are part of recovery. Places where individuals can explore what works for them, build confidence in managing their feelings, and feel understood in how they experience the world.

This week is about celebration, but also about continuing to learn, adapt and create environments where every individual feels supported, valued and able to thrive.

17/03/2026

This Neurodiversity Week, we’re celebrating different minds and the value they bring to our world. Here are just some of the reasons why neurodiversity matters🌻⭐

Please comment to add to our list!

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London

Telephone

0203 209 7900

Website

http://www.ellernmede.org/

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