Specialist area:
Mental health
What mental health dietitians help with:
Mental health dietitians can help you to eat well and develop a positive relationship with food. Good nutrition is important for both your mental and physical health.
Mental health dietitians also work to improve catering and menu planning within mental health settings, such as psychiatric units.
Who do mental health dietitians help?
Mental health dietitians work with people of all ages who have mental health conditions. These can include anxiety, bipolar disorder, dementia, depression, drug and/or alcohol problems, eating disorders, learning disabilities, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Mental health dietitians also work with autistic people.
How do mental health dietitians work?
Your mental health dietitian will work with the rest of your health care team to help you eat well and develop a positive relationship with food. They will use tools and techniques, including behaviour change, motivational interviewing and mindfulness.
Mental health dietitians may provide nutrition education and training for health care professionals. They also develop nutrition resources.
Where do mental health dietitians work?
You are likely to see your mental health dietitian work at hospital, in outpatient and inpatient appointments. You may also see them in supported living and day care facilities.
You can also pay to see a mental health dietitian in private practice.
Further info:
- The BDA Mental Health group supports dietitians working in all areas of mental health, including adult mental health, older people’s mental health, forensics, learning disabilities, children and adolescent mental health and eating disorders. Are you a BDA member dietitian working or interested in mental? Join our Mental Health Specialist Group today.
- Learn more about food and mood
- Learn more about depression and diet