ROdown Blog
National Eating Disorders Collaboration Youth Consultation
We need your help to make a change!
We want to find out what you think about body image and eating issues and get your ideas on some of the ways eating and body image issues could be prevented in young people.
The reason we want to know this is because the National Eating Disorders Collaboration is putting together a report to the Australian Government on the best way to prevent and treat eating disorders in young guys and girls.
You can have your say in three ways....
- Through an online survey which takes under 15 minutes to complete
- By answering the consultation questions on the ROtreat forum
- Attending one of the face-to-face consultation groups taking place in Sydney (more details below)
Face-to-face focus groups are open to young guys and girls who are 25 years or under and live in Sydney. They are being held in Balmain (about a 10 minute bus ride from Sydney Town Hall). Details below:
- Wednesday, 4 November from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
- Wednesday, 5 November from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
- Monday, 9 November from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
To say ‘thanks’ you’ll receive $30 Coles Myer gift voucher along with some snacks on the night.
If you’re interested in attending please send an email to Mim (mariesa@inspiredigital.com.au) and include the following details:
• Name
• Age
• Sex
• Session(s) you are available to attend.
The youth consultation has been funded by the Australian Government, under the banner of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. The results will be used to shape recommendations to the government on how we can best prevent and treat eating disorders in young people.
Important stuff....
If this issue is affecting you or anyone you know check out the Butterfly Foundation Website or explore the eating disorders section of Reach Out.
And if you need help now - please call:
- Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (free call from landline)
- Lifeline on 13 11 14 (cost of local call from landline)
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6 Comments
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Fiosha
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportLooking forward to there being a greater understanding that eating disorders aren't just about the food/weight/vanity/whatever, but are a symptom of the real problems. Hospital treatment I've recieved for the past 13 years has focused on making me feel worse - fed my self-hatred. I just took over punishing myself where everyone else in my life left off - and then I was being punished for that, too. Most people seem to think that it's a selfish attention seeking lot of 'stunts', but this is nothing like that, I want so badly just to be normal, just to be okay. Life's too precious to have survived what we have, and then lose it to a stupid eating disorder - that's why I keep fighting. And I will make it.
I pray for everyone out there and please pray for me - I need all the support I can get right now. I've never been so alone as I am now - when life's actually physically 'safe', now my abuser has become myself.
Ophelia.L
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportI finished reading the book now, and thought; I share what I thought about this book. This book has hit me by so much, especially during the time, where I was suffering from eating. I didn't know why yet, but I just had these thoughts of 'blah, leave me alone, type of feeling(s)' I'm not hungry.'
This book had given me a 'choice' and lots of 'chances' to eat, and to be a stronger person to do it.
Every day we should look at ourselves in the mirror and say to ourselves, "don't give up hope", even if it means, clenching your hands/fist so tight, saying it to yourself in the mirror: "I can do it. I can take each day a step at a time."
The same goes with self-harmers. I know I have been a self-harmer for 10 years, and have found it so hard to stop! Until I came across ReachOut Australia in 2008. There were still a few times where I'd self-harm in the last couple of months, due to personal issues, from my childhood trauma, coming back to my present and just haunting me, day in and day out.
I am so glad I got the chance to virtually meet Melinda Hutchings, through ReachOut, and now on Twitter and last week face to face, having coffee, discussing this issue.
2. Body image + blokes
If you are suffering eating disorder, please contact your local 'General Practitioner' (GP) from wherever you are from around the world or if you can't contact a 'Help Line' if possible.
Remember to stay positive in your life & know every one around you loves you for who you are
Finding Melissa
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportAt the impressionable age of 11, when adult insecurities and expectations are starting to kick in, I developed anorexia bulimia. It has taken me 18 years to get rid of it. As my experience taught me, eating disorders are intimately bound up with social expectations (girl power), psychological characteristics’ (perfectionism, intelligence),cultural trends (24 hours food) and the age old struggle to find your identity.
It is impossible to be all things to all people; and, anorexia is certainly not a solution to the feelings of depression or dissatisfaction or uncertainty....it will, in fact, just heighten these feelings; and, we need to start changing the message in order to stop other young girls from developing conditions which can, all too easily, steal your teenage years.
Supporting awareness of eating disorders helps people to make sense of the feelings that they can have about their bodies and food; and, with eating disorders beginning at every earlier ages, we really need to start getting the message across.
Ophelia.L
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportCan anyone please look at just how I spelt: Smiles? Smalaz? Is that even a word?
Ophelia.L
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportLooking forward to this one! I really do hope it helps many people out there who are having eating disorder issues.
Chey
over 2 years ago
Reply Report:) Im looking forward to the info bus on this
expically as I was in another about Negative thinking etc and body image and both were really good,they made me think in diffrent ways n try new things.
I use to have a book Ill try to remember what its called and post it up,Its a good one for eating disorders.