This week is the National Eating Disorder Association’s (NEDA) ‘Eating Disorder Awareness Week’ (EDAW). Spanning from February 24 to March 25, this week is intended to create awareness and advocacy regarding eating disorders in an attempt to provide education and resources to anyone who may be in need of them.
Here is a blurb about the campaign, from nationaleatingdisorders.org.
“Eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate among mental health conditions, with one person dying from an eating disorder every 52 minutes, yet many are unaware of the barriers that can make it difficult to find recovery, including a lack of understanding about eating disorders and their impact. This year’s theme, ‘The Time is Now,’ aims to shift this perception—by highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge and resources, encouraging early detection and treatment, and supporting ongoing research.”
Before anyone jumps the gun and points out the fact that NEDA is an American organization, I am well aware. I reside in Canada, but I’ve always found NEDA to advocate their EDAW to a better and stronger extent than Canadian organizations. I am also aware that NEDA has made some questionable choices in the past regarding how they address eating disorders through their social media accounts. Despite these conditions, I still hold NEDA close to my heart because of my own experience with an eating disorder; their resources were helpful to me when I needed them most, even if I am in Canada.
Eating disorders need more attention – from a medical standpoint, but also from a psychological and media standpoint. They affect so many people and there must be more readily available information provided to the public about them in order to do better and assist more individuals who need help.
Experiencing an eating disorder is a living hell, and I am not exaggerating when I make that assertion. The long-term damage they inflict is worthy of more attention.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
ontheedgeofeverything 