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In May this year the Butterfly Foundation put out a “Mayday” call seeking to raise awareness and support for those suffering with eating disorders in Australia. They estimate there are now 1 million sufferers in Australia with less than 25%of those with an eating disorder in treatment despite the fact that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. There are only 37 public hospital beds available for treatment across the entire country. Butterfly have declared this a national emergency. You can help in a number of ways.
You can support organisations like Butterfly.
You can rate and review this Podcast and provide feedback so that I can better target the information and support I provide in this free online resource.
If you’re a carer you can listen to your loved one; seek first to understand; stay curious about what’s happening for them; focus on the whole person (the character and qualities you admire) and call forth that person that may seem a little buried beneath a host of eating disorder behaviours. Do things with them they used to enjoy…maybe going for a walk, doing an art class, visiting a gallery.
If you’re a struggler, reach out….beyond the isolation of the eating disorder to the people that are in your world and beyond. Post your questions or any situations you would like me to address here (michelle@michellesparkes,com). It would be my present pleasure and privilege to support you.
You can recover your life.