Help Us Protect Children and Adults Living With Pica

Together, we can change the law and save lives.Sign the open letter today and help make specialist Pica training a statutory requirement.

What Is This Campaign About?

Every day, children and adults living with Pica face life-threatening risks.
Pica is a psychological disorder that causes people to ingest non-food items — items that can perforate organs, cause internal injuries, infections, choking, or death.

Despite the dangers, there are currently no national guidelines and no requirement for staff in schools, care homes, or residential settings to receive specialist Pica training.

This campaign exists to change that.
Why We Need Your Voice

Families across the UK fight tirelessly to keep their loved ones safe. But in professional settings — where parents and carers cannot be present — the risks increase dramatically.

Fatalities linked to Pica have occurred in environments where staff were not trained and did not understand the behaviour.

People with Pica deserve better protection.
Professionals deserve the skills and knowledge they need.
Families deserve peace of mind.

Your signature sends a powerful message to Parliament:
Training must become statutory. Guidance must be national. Safety must come first.

ADD YOUR NAME TO THE OPEN LETTER

What the Open Letter Is Calling For

We are urging the UK Government to:

• Make Pica training a statutory requirement

For all educational, health, and social care settings that support people with Pica.

• Create national guidelines on Pica

So every practitioner follows consistent, evidence-based safety protocols.

• Ensure medical professionals use standard diagnostic criteria

Leading to faster, accurate diagnosis and better pathways of support.

• Raise awareness of the real risks of Pica

Because many injuries and fatalities are avoidable with the right knowledge.

Your name helps strengthen these demands and brings us one step closer to meaningful change.

Why This Matters

People with Pica often cannot communicate that they are in danger.
They rely on adults around them — teachers, support workers, clinicians — to understand the risks and intervene appropriately.

But without proper training, staff simply cannot recognise the triggers, cannot create safe environments, and cannot prevent harm.

Pica does not follow typical safeguarding rules.
Each person’s Pica profile is unique.
Only specialist training prepares staff for real-world situations.

Lives have already been lost. With your help, we can prevent more.

About The National PICA Advisory Service

The National PICA Advisory Service (TNPAS) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to Pica.
Our specialists provide:

• Evidence-based Pica training

• Risk assessments and personalised advice

• Support for families

• Guidance for health, education, and social care professionals

We are committed to reducing risk, increasing understanding, and ensuring every person living with Pica is kept safe.

Add Your Name. Share the Letter. Save Lives.

Your signature adds weight to this national campaign and pushes Parliament to act.
Together, we can make Pica training statutory, create national guidelines, and protect the people who need it most.

SIGN THE OPEN LETTER NOW

Thank you for standing with us, raising awareness, and being part of real, life-saving change.