March 2021 Newsletter

For those of you supporting a loved one with an eating disorder, the uncertainty and frequent changing of alert levels may be adding stress to your already challenging circumstances. Globally the pandemic has generated an increase in eating disorder presentations and relapses, as well as in the level of acuity and severity of illness. Experts have proposed the reasons for this may include heightened anxiety, lack of structure and uncertainty, and during lockdown the potentially triggering messages around diet and exercise and BMI and COVID risk factors.

While EDANZ recognise the NZ mental health system is under strain generally, causing long wait times for treatment and, in some cases, inadequate treatment provision, we are actively advocating with the Ministry of Health, DHBs and Government around the particularly urgent need to improve access to treatment for eating disorders. We are grateful to the professionals in the health sector who are dedicated to helping those who are suffering and we are committed to supporting them to have the resources to carry out their vital work.

Can you help?

To strengthen our advocacy, we would like to provide personal stories illustrating the excessive and unnecessary suffering for individuals and their families. If you would be willing to tell your story of difficulty accessing treatment, or of other challenges you have experienced, either anonymously or otherwise, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please send us an email at info@ed.org.nz

We’ve included three articles below that we urge you to read. Knowledge is power in supporting your loved one to recover.

Sending very best wishes to you and your family from the team at EDANZ

Nicki Wilson
Chairperson

Temperament and Personality Traits

Over the years, scientists have found distinct personality traits in individuals with eating disorders. They appear relatively specific to each disorder and can distinguish eating disorder sufferers from healthy people. Find out more in this article.

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/toolkit/parent-toolkit/temperament-and-personality

The Science Behind the Academy for Eating Disorders’ Nine Truths About Eating Disorders

The “Nine Truths About Eating Disorders” is a guiding document to accelerate global dissemination of accurate and evidence-informed information about eating disorders. Read this article to learn more about the research and science behind these truths.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711426/

Emotion Coaching for Meal Support: A brain hack for decreasing resistance

Read about meal-support strategies employed by therapists, nurses and clinicians worldwide in eating disorder programmes, with practical suggestions that parents and caregivers can also use.

https://www.feast-ed.org/emotion-coaching-for-meal-support-a-brain-hack-for-decreasing-resistance/

Upcoming support group meetings

EDANZ believes parents/carers have unique abilities to support one another and we hold regular meetings to which you are warmly invited. Currently, we're joining together around the country once a month thanks to Zoom videoconferencing technology. 

If you would like to participate in a virtual support group, please RSVP to info@ed.org.nz and we'll send you the link.

Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm

Upcoming 2021 Dates:
Monday, 15 March
Monday, 19 April

More information can be found on our website Parent/Carer Support Groups page

Remember: EDANZ helpline is open throughout all Covid Alert Levels – please don’t hesitate to contact us info@ed.org.nz or leave a message on the phone 0800 2 EDANZ and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you are concerned about the safety of someone, please ring 111 or go to the Emergency Department of your nearest hospital.

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