The Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta is celebrating 10 years of providing support, connection, and hope for people living with an eating disorder and their care-givers.
EDSNA offers professionally facilitated, low-cost support groups for care-givers and people living with an eating disorder or disordered eating.
The organization also offers resources, community workshops, webinars, and events throughout the year.
“When I think about the work EDSNA has done and how many people it has helped over the past 10 years, I truly am at a loss for words,” EDSNA president Amanda Huxley said.
“This organization plays such a vital role for so many in their own recovery journeys and that of their loved ones. It’s truly remarkable what EDSNA has accomplished and continues to achieve.”
Founded in 2014 by a mother whose daughter developed an eating disorder, EDSNA has provided support to over 2,100 people in the last 10 years.
The organization runs groups that include support for individuals living with eating disorders; those experiencing binge eating disorder; support for women over 40; support for parents, partners and loved ones; body image; meal support and more.
EDSNA’s services are low cost in an effort to reduce barriers for those seeking support. Clients can access support through EDSNA at any time while they seek professional treatment options that align with their recovery journey.
“I am optimistic about what can be achieved in the future, and about EDSNA’s ability to evolve as support needs change,” executive director Lauren Berlinguette said. “This organization started with a concerned parent, but has grown to be part of a much larger community of people who all share the same goal: to ensure no one in Alberta faces an eating disorder alone.”
Eating disorders are the second deadliest mental illness behind opioid overdose.
Approximately one million Canadians have a diagnosis of an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidance restrictive food intake disorder and otherwise specified feeding and eating disorder.
Eating disorders can often co-occur with other mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression or other mood disorders.
At least 50 per cent of patients have a dual diagnosis of substance abuse or other addiction.
For information, visit www.edsna.ca or @eatingdsna.
