James Downs

James is a mental health campaigner and expert by experience in eating disorders. He holds various roles at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and NHS England aimed at improving support for those experiencing mental health problems and eating disorders, and for their carers. James also represents various UK mental health charities and is a yoga and barre teacher

<p>A new study has highlighted the use of the NHS soups and shakes diet programme for type 2 diabetes</p>

For people like me, the NHS ‘soup and shake’ diet could be dangerous

<p>Earl Spencer, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has published his memoir</p>

Earl Spencer has done men like me a massive favour

<p>On the one hand, there’s a narrative that suggests Chris Pincher assaulted men because he is gay</p>

Pincher scandal is a reminder – gay men like me aren’t ‘asking for it’

<p>I was either left to struggle alone, or gawked at by medics</p>

Ignored, fetished: The reality of being a man with an eating disorder

<p>We need to keep breaking down stereotypes about eating disorders in society</p>

Men struggling with ‘bigorexia’ need eating disorder support too

<p>A message to Health Secretary Sajid Javid: when it comes to mental health, warm words alone will never be enough </p>

Mental health was completely forgotten in the government’s reshuffle

<p>‘92 per cent of people with eating disorders do not have anorexia’</p>

Being gay and having an eating disorder leaves me feeling invisible

<p>‘The coronavirus pandemic has brought longstanding problems for people with eating disorders into sharp relief’</p>

People like me with eating disorders have struggled during lockdown