Dr Lesley O'Hara of Lucena Clinic Services who is the contact for the research project.
A project which looks at the experience of adolescents affected by eating disorders has been launched as part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Researchers from Lucena Clinic Services and UCD are finding out how adolescents look for support and what kinds of services are available to them. The findings will help to greatly improve services for young people.
Dr Lesley O’Hara of Lucena Clinic Services says: “We are particularly interested in talking to 15 – 18 year olds about their experience of living with an eating disorder.
If you would like to be involved, please get in touch. I will explain what taking part involves to you and your family and arrange to meet at a time and date that suits you. Anything you share with us will be completely confidential and anonymous.”
Bodywhys, the Eating Disorder Association of Ireland, is also working on this very important research project.
Professor Fiona McNicholas who is heading the research project says: “There is currently no data available in Ireland outlining the care available to young people with eating disorders. The information we gather will give us a better understanding of the potential barriers to using eating disorder services. The findings will be used to inform young people about eating disorders and encourage them to contact and make use of care and support services.”
Contact:
Dr Lesley O’Hara
Lucena Clinic Services
59 Orwell Road
Rathgar Dublin 8
Tel: 01 492 3596
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lucena Clinic Services is a service of Saint John of God Community Services clg.
www.lucenaclinic.ie
Bodywhys is the National Eating Disorder Association of Ireland.
www.bodywhys.ie
UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science is involved in a wide variety of research, including eating disorders.
http://www.ucd.ie/medicine/ourresearch/researchthemes/psychiatrymentalhealth/
About the Researchers
Professor Fiona McNicholas
Professor McNicholas is a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Lucena Clinic Services, Rathgar, and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. She is passionate about increasing public, professional and family awareness of mental health problems in children and providing the necessary information regarding treatment and prevention. Her clinical interests are ADHD, Selective Mutism and Eating Disorders. She is currently working in Stanford University in the area of eating disorders. She is also a Lecturer in Child Psychiatry at University College Dublin where she has run a Masters Programme in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for children along with a Postgraduate Diploma in child mental health. She trained in Psychiatry at Guys Hospital and in Child Psychiatry in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. She carried out a fellowship in Stanford University, CA and was Assistant Professor
at Columbia University, NY.
Dr Niamh McNamara
Dr McNamara holds a BA and PhD in Applied Psychology from University College Cork and is currently Lecturer in Psychology at University of Bedfordshire. Dr McNamara’s research focus is on the application of psychology to real-world contexts. Her research interests primarily lie in exploring the ways in which group memberships (and the social identities derived from them) contribute to resilience and vulnerability in socially stigmatised groups. Previous work in this area in which she has been involved has examined the ways in which identity dynamics influence help-seeking behaviours and service use and how community identity acts as a coping resource in socially marginalised communities.
Dr Lesley O’Hara
Dr O’Hara holds a BA from National University of Ireland, Galway and a MSc and PhD in Critical Health Psychology from Nottingham Trent University. Dr O’Hara is particularly interested in the lived experience of individuals with illness. Her research to date has focussed on the management of chronic illness, men’s health, and the familial experience of living with illness. She is currently working as a Research Psychologist at Lucena Clinic Services on a national study of eating disorders. This research aims to generate knowledge in relation to service provision and outcome for adolescents with eating disorders.
