Melbourne mother Sarah has been supporting her 18-year-old daughter’s recovery from anorexia nervosa for the past seven years, with the help of Sarah’s father Glenn.
Caring for Elise is a 24/7 job: Sarah constantly monitors her daughter, making sure she eats six meals a day, isn’t secretly exercising in her room or going for a run the night.
There are times when Elise is so distraught that she needs to be physically restrained to protect her from hurting herself.
“It’s like a war,” Sarah said.
Elise’s eating disorder began when she was 12 years old, in the midst of transitioning from elementary to high school.
During the pandemic, Elise’s eating disorder symptoms intensified.
Sarah believes the sudden lack of routine and increased time online exacerbated her daughter’s condition.
Elizabeth is not alone.
COVID Causes Rise in Eating Disorders
a recent study at The Lancet found that COVID-19 has increased the prevalence of eating disorders worldwide by up to 15.3 percent in 2020, compared to previous years.
From 2021 to 2022 Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV) experienced a 300 percent increase in demand for its services.
EDV worker Gemma De Leo said more than a million Australians are affected by eating disorders each year, but only a quarter of those people access treatment.
“The pandemic has had a huge impact on people with eating disorders, whether it’s with a new diagnosis, new presentations, people who are recovering, their symptoms have gotten worse, or people who have recovered and relapsed due to the pandemic.” she said.
The increase in cases could have fatal consequences: eating disorders have the higher mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.
The mental health system needs to ‘rebuild’
On Wednesday, the Victorian Government announced a $20 million package to help Victorians with eating disorders, including an additional 15 mental health beds and four multidisciplinary mental health teams in the Victoria region.
There is also funding to develop a new statewide eating disorder strategy, so Victoria has a more coordinated response to support people living with eating disorders, as well as their carers, families and supporters, in the future.
“We need to rebuild our mental health system from the ground up, but also deal with the long tail that is going to come out of this pandemic,” said Victoria’s Minister for Mental Health, James Merlino.
Sarah welcomed the funding, but said people like her “desperately” needed more support now.
The constant caregiving responsibilities have put an enormous strain on the entire family and have strained relationships.
“We have lived through this hell for seven years and we are going to continue to live through it because there is no support,” Sarah said.
Gap in the ‘hospital carousel’
Elise has been hospitalized with anorexia 15 times because her physical health was at critical risk from the condition.
At the hospital, Elise receives 24-hour care to get her to a point where she is medically stable.
Sarah says her daughter is then discharged and there is no support for families trying to cobble together 24-hour care.
“There’s a big gap between hospitalization and when you can access day services,” Sarah said.
“You have to have a certain BMI [body mass index] get outpatient services because they know the brain doesn’t work when you’re malnourished.
co-founder of Families with Eating Disorders Australia (EDFA) Christine Naismith said that many people have experienced the “carousel” of going to emergency departments and then being discharged without the necessary care or a plan to follow.
Christine’s daughter, Alana, was diagnosed with anorexia in 2012 and has now recovered from the condition.
Alana recalls being released from the hospital as the “most terrifying moment for a family.”
“I was the center of attention, mum had to sleep in my room for months and watch me take a shower,” Miss Naismith said.
“There is not as much support for the other brothers.”
That time has had a lasting impact on the entire Naismith family.
Alana’s sister is currently receiving treatment for Restrictive Avoidant Food Intake Disorder.
Mrs. Naismith’s son experienced depression.
Why a national approach is necessary
While welcoming the investment from the Victorian government, Ms Naismith said Australia needed a national approach to eating disorders so there was constant attention throughout the country.
“In major cities, treatment for eating disorders is very scarce and is almost non-existent in many regional areas.”
In each state and territory, different organizations are trying to solve the same problems.
Ms Naismith said a national approach would allow Australia to treat eating disorders more efficiently, meaning less money spent on planning and more on patient care.
A spokesman for the federal health minister, Greg Hunt, said the government had committed more than $250 million for eating disorder services, national coordination and research.
“The Morrison government provided $110.7 million for the first Medicare-specific items for eating disorders, which allowed people with an eating disorder to receive up to 40 Medicare-subsidized psychology and 20 dietary treatment sessions per year. “said the spokesman.
“The Morrison Government is also funding the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) to lead the development and implementation of a nationally consistent, evidence-based system of care for prevention and treatment. of eating disorders.
ABC reached out to the opposition for comment, but they did not respond by the deadline.
.
