Mental health-related service contact amongst young people with a possible eating problem in the English national child mental health surveys

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Objective To describe patterns of service contact among young people screening positive for possible eating problems and their characteristics. Methods Secondary analysis of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2017 survey, a national stratified probability sample. Possible eating problems were identified using Development and Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA) eating disorder screening items in young people aged 11–19. Individuals answered questions regarding contact with sources of help for any mental health concern. Results Overall, 36.4% of young people screened positive for a possible eating problem, of whom 60.7% reported no contact with sources of mental health support. Among those reporting contact with formal and specialist services, a substantial proportion screened positive for possible eating problems, including half of those reporting contact with mental health specialists. In weighted multinomial logistic regression restricted to screen-positive young people, older age (17–19 years) and presence of a DSM-5 diagnosis on the DAWBA were associated with higher likelihood of contact across informal, formal, and secondary healthcare sources. Young people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds were less likely to report secondary healthcare contact than White peers. Conclusion Despite high numbers of young people screening positive for possible eating problems, rates of help seeking for any mental health concerns in this group were low. Within this subgroup, service contact varies by age, ethnicity, and psychiatric morbidity. Differences in service contact in this subgroup should be further explored.