Take time to raise awareness for eating disorders

The year is sprinkled with days, weeks, and months of national mental health observances raising awareness and support for a growing list of important topics. Today marks the beginning of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is held the last week of February with the National Eating Disorders Association, NEDA, naming this year’s theme as “Get in the Know,” with the goal of spreading awareness and information about eating disorders, treatment and prevention.

The National Eating Disorders Association is the United States’ biggest non-profit organization that focuses on supporting those experiencing eating disorders and their families.

In the United States, nearly 30 million people will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that involve extreme emotions, attitudes, thoughts and behaviors related to food and bodies.

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People in college or early adulthood are some of the most at-risk for developing an eating disorder. Factors like it being a time of major life changes, social pressures and choosing what to eat on their own can be contributors.

“Eating disorders occur in all body weights. There have been so many myths,” Dr. Cynthia Bulik said in a National Institute of Mental Health seminar. “Eating disorders do not discriminate in terms of body weight, body shape, body size, or really any other demographic factor.”

Treating eating disorders usually includes an approach that focuses on mental and physical health through the help of therapists, dietitians and others.

Conversations about hosting a National Eating Disorders Awareness Week started in the 1980s but it took time to gain widespread traction. Now this week happens annually to platform information about eating disorders and spread support.

How to get involved and support eating disorders awareness week (EDAW), now and throughout the year

1) Learn about eating disorders

Want to support someone with an eating disorder? Learning more about these disorders is a great way to start. Check out these resources for more information:

2) Share information about eating disorders

A great way to spread information is through medical organizations’ social media like National Eating Disorders Association’s Instagram @neda or the National Alliance for Eating Disorders’ @alliancefored. Also, check out the hashtag #EDAW for the latest posts. You can even share this post by visiting Call to Mind Now on Facebook or Instagram!

NEDA will also have shareable EDAW graphics on their page that can be found here.

3) Visit a landmark building

Notable buildings across the nation will glow blue and green during Eating Disorders Awareness Week to raise awareness of eating disorder conditions. To see what will be lit up near you, check here.

4) Share eating disorder and mental health helplines

If you or a loved one are going through something, there are a range of options to help. There are a few eating disorder specific helplines, as well as mental health helplines:

National Alliance for Eating Disorders provides a confidential eating disorders helpline that is free. It is available 1-866-662-1235 and can be reached Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. eastern time.

There is also a helpline through the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD) at 1-888-375-7767. ANAD’s line is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. central time.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers information, resources and support through their Helpline 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264). This is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. eastern time.

And if you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. There is also the option to text the Crisis Text Line by sending “HOME” to 741-741.