Category: Eating Disorders
The Missouri Eating Disorders Council, in collaboration with appropriate organizations and stakeholders, in addition to the Departments of Mental Health, Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education, will lead the development of eating disorders education, awareness and research initiatives throughout the state, and promote increased access to treatments supported by clinical practice guidelines (i.e., considering the relevant scientific literature, as well as the potential harms and benefits of treatment for each case).1-3
The Council will focus on children, adolescents, and adults with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), atypical AN, sub threshold BN, sub threshold BED, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). These are the major diagnostic categories included in DSM-5.4 It will include the sub threshold diagnoses (atypical AN, sub threshold BN, sub threshold BED) because patients with these disorders demonstrate levels of distress and/or impairment similar to full-syndrome AN, BN, and BED.5
Eating disorder awareness, detection, prevention, treatment and recovery is of paramount importance and must start early. Early intervention is linked to better treatment outcomes, but requires enhanced awareness and screening.6 The Council will focus on helping professionals to recognize individuals with eating disorders and individuals at high risk for developing an eating disorder (e.g., those with high weight/shape concerns or low levels of compensatory behaviors).7-8 The Council will advocate for increased access to care for this population, as well as promote early intervention and prevention programs and recovery supports.
The absence of adequate coverage for treatment is a critical barrier to access to care for the patient.9 The high costs of medical complications, disability, and loss of life are significant health concerns.10-12 The Council will advocate for third party reimbursement for eating disorders, including coverage through private and public insurance plans.
The Council will work with identified partners, including state departments, to develop an eating disorders awareness program that targets patients with eating disorders as well as non-patient community members. This program will be designed to communicate that eating disorders are serious illnesses that require complete treatment, and to foster recognition of eating disorder symptoms and support for seeking treatment. The objectives of the awareness program are to educate Missouri citizens on the true and serious nature of the disease, dispel myths on who is affected, drive early intervention and encourage appropriate treatment for those suffering or those at risk.
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BridgePoint Center for Eating Disorders is a residential facility that provides program options that include intensive discovery, recovery and healing for people who are experiencing disordered eating. Participants stay in community at our facility for the duration of their program. There are 15 beds available with 24/7 support by a team of professionals, paraprofessionals and peer support. The center is the only residential eating disorder program in Saskatchewan and is a hidden gem in the quaint setting of Milden, Saskatchewan. Programming is free of charge with a valid Saskatchewan health card. Virtual retreat and weekly support group options are now being offered. Out of province and out of country participants are welcome. For more information, visit www.bridgepointcenter.ca.
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The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness ("The Alliance") is a nonprofit* organization dedicated to providing programs and activities aimed at outreach, education, and early intervention for all eating disorders. Founded in October 2000, The Alliance has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, eliminate secrecy and stigma, promote access to care and support for those susceptible to, currently struggling with, and recovered from eating disorders. The Alliance creates a bridge for those needing and seeking help by connecting people with resources and information to assist them in their recovery.
The Alliance offers educational workshops and presentations, free support groups for those struggling and for their loved ones, advocacy for eating disorders and mental health legislation, national toll-free phone help line, and referrals, support and mentoring services. All services offered by The Alliance are free-of-charge, therefore, making it accessible to everyone. Since its inception in October 2000, The Alliance has offered presentations on eating disorders, positive body image, and self-esteem to more than 250,000 individuals throughout Florida and nationwide.
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Calgary Silver Linings Foundation (CSLF) is a registered charity that was founded by parents of loved ones who developed eating disorders, mental health specialists and community leaders. Currently, we offer 8-week professionally-facilitated support groups throughout the year, for individuals with eating disorders (18 years and older) and a separate group for parents and loved ones of someone with an eating disorder. CSLF's primary mission is to establish the province's first residential eating disorder treatment centre. Having experienced firsthand the devastation of eating disorders, we are committed to seeing that Albertans navigating these grave mental illnesses are able to access the specialized care that they urgently need right here, at home. To learn more about CSLF, please visit our website, www.silverliningsfoundation.ca
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The Missouri Eating Disorders Association’s mission is to bring hope, compassion and understanding to the fight against eating disorders. We are committed to providing education, resources and advocacy that will change the conversation around eating disorders. We strive to bring understanding and support to those treating or affected by this terrible and serious disease.
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We are the foremost eating disorders nonprofit organization in New England. We provide education about eating disorders and their underlying causes to develop a compassionate community that promotes hopefulness and supports healing. We offer a variety of services to support individuals and loved ones through the various stages of their journey. Through our network of Treatment Providers and Treatment Centers we connect clients with the best care for their needs. MEDA is the first step toward awareness and healing.
Our Mission: To HEAL, EDUCATE and EMPOWER our community to support the people, families and other community members impacted by eating disorders, to stop the spread of eating disorders through educational awareness and early detection, and to promote greater acceptance of all body types.
Our Vision: We envision a community without eating disorders that promotes a positive body culture.
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On September 2, 2005 we received a phone call saying in essence, our daughter Cammy‘s heart was not beating, and she was on her way to Erlanger hospital by way of ambulance. While we huddled with close friends and family in prayer, we were given the devastating news that she was gone.
How does something like this happen to a vibrant 26 year old young woman? How do you reconcile just two days prior taking a long walk with someone who expressed her dreams for the future who appeared healthy and happy. Well, I can only state that eating disorders are deadly.
She suffered from all three of the eating disorders (defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders #4). She had binge eating disorder in high school, where she ate in excess in private. During her freshmen year in college she turned to bulimia to rid herself of her excess high school weight. She could eat large amounts of food and then purge by way of vomiting. She was also pairing her bulimia with anorexia which can often be the case. This behavior took its toll when in her junior year of college she went into cardiac arrest, and we almost lost her for the first time. We learned when you purge you rid yourself of essential electrolytes that control the beating of the heart and thus causing it to shut down.
We sent her for treatment to Arizona to save her life, and to hopefully help her overcome her E.D. When she left after almost three months we thought she had it beaten. Unfortunately, there were additional life threatening instances that followed. Eating Disorders seemed to control her in such a way that nothing seemed to help. After many years of therapy and finding the true love of her life we thought she was finally on the road to recovery. This proved not to be the case. We are not sure to this day what exactly caused her final cardiac failure, but for sure it was a result of her eating disorders.
To honor her memory Ashley Yates (her closest friend) and I (Jan Robinson, Cammy’s Mother) founded the Mary Cameron Robinson (MCR) Foundation for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. It would have been so helpful to me had there been a source like this when Cammy was struggling. There is so much to learn about this disease and the earlier it is treated the better the chance of survival. Denying it will not cause it to go away. We must educate ourselves to be aware of the behaviors and to intervene as soon as possible. This is absolutely crucial. Cammy would be so proud to know her death was not in vain and she lives on with this foundation.
MCR’S Mission Statement
The mission of the MCR Foundation is to provide resources for people who are affected by eating disorders in the Greater Chattanooga Tri-State area. The Foundation is committed to a holistic approach encompassing physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well being.
MCR will do this by:
• Providing education and multi-media resources
• Promoting awareness and developing prevention strategies
• Providing support systems
• Conducting research for community needs
• Promoting a healthy lifestyle and a appropriate self image
• Serve as a resource for referrals for counseling and treatment
MCR’S Vision
The MCR Foundation will be a comprehensive non-profit center in the Chattanooga Tri-State area for education concerning prevention early diagnosis and treatment of individuals and families affected by eating disorders, focusing on healing the mind, body, and spirit.
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The mission of The Eating Disorder Foundation is to be an effective resource in the prevention and elimination of eating disorders through education, support, and advocacy. We offer a variety of free support groups, drop-in services, and free educational presentations. Please see our website for more information on our current offerings.
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The Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA) is a not-for-profit, registered charity, community-based organization servicing the Windsor-Essex Region in Southwestern, Ontario. Since 1983, we’ve been committed to the provision of specialized clinical treatment, education and support services for individuals affected directly and indirectly by eating disorders.
As the primary regional source for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, BANA is a leader in the promotion and acceptance of diverse body shapes and sizes through the adoption of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Since its inception, BANA has provided services to thousands of individuals of all ages, genders and social/economic backgrounds with an ongoing case load of approximately 300 clients. In addition, we annually organize and host 250 educational health promotion presentations and programs that reach more than 20,000 children and adults.
Services are provided free of charge, without age restrictions and are supported by the Ministry of Health and the Erie St. Clair LHIN. For more information visit www.bana.ca.
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The Missouri Eating Disorders Association’s mission is to bring hope, compassion and understanding to the fight against eating disorders. We are committed to providing education, resources and advocacy that will change the conversation around eating disorders. We strive to bring understanding and support to those treating or affected by this terrible and serious disease.
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