2014-2015 Report to Stakeholders

In 1998, a group of women who had recovered from eating disorders created the Eating Disorders Action Group (EDAG)EDAG became a charitable organization, dedicated to providing peer support groups, education, and advocacy.

In 2011/12 EDAG conducted a community consultation to redefine the direction and future of the organization.

EDAG joined forces with the Self-Help Connection in 2013, a provincial charitable organization with a strong history of supporting self-help and peer support across NS. Eating Disorders Action Group metamorphosed into Eating Disorders NS, a core program of the Self-Help Connection.

With the support from the NS Department of Health and Wellness’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy we were able to deliver three peer support groups for people with eating disorders.

Three structured, 12 week groups were delivered with 18 participants completing the program

A team of three facilitators led the groups, working in pairs

Two mentors provided back up support, troubleshooting and guidance

Data was collected pre and post, and focus groups held following each group as part of the evaluation

6 workshops on eating disorders and recovery were led by two facilitators over the fall

Facilitators and Mentors connected to the Eating Disorders Peer Support Community of Practice

Peer Support Groups

For the first time in my life I could see someone in real life who was living in recovery. And it made me realize that it was possible. 

Without being in the group I wouldn’t be whereI am now.

I’ve learned so much about myself – I feel so motivated and stronger!

With support from the IWK Community Grants, and Cape Breton District Health Authority Mental Health and Addictions we were able to expand the supports available for families.

Research into existing family peer support group models, education for families and programs such as the Meridian Program, Strengthening Families and the National Eating Disorders Awareness informed the content.

A training program and guide were developed with guidance from the IWK’s Mental Health and Addictions (Sotiria Tsirigotis) Capital Health’s Eating Disorders Program (Brad Holley), the IWK’s Eating Disorders Team (Dr Joanne Gusella), Cape Breton Regional Hospital's Eating Disorder Clinic (Dr Emily Orr) and the Halifax Family Peer Support Group facilitator (Kelly Peckham).

6 parents completed our training program.

Working in partnership with Cape Breton Regional Hospital's Eating Disorder Clinic and Dr Emily Orr we launched the 1st Family Peer Support Group in Sidney in February 2015. This group will run every month.

A team of parents, clinicians, school staff, dieticians and psychologists are supporting the launch of a Family Peer Support Group in the valley. This group will start April 28 th and meet in New Minas.

Our Halifax Family Peer Support Group continued to support families impacted by eating disorders, delivering nine group sessions.

Peer Support Groups for Families

With support from the Medavie Health Foundation the Individual Peer Support framework and training program was developed.

An advisory committee was formed and included representation from Laing House; Kelty Mental Health – Eating Disorders; IWK – Mental Health and Addictions; Medavie Health Foundation, and individuals currently providing group based peer support with Eating Disorders NS.

Research into peer support and best practices from around the world was conducted and key findings informed our framework. Specific training needs for those delivering peer support were identified and the content of the training program was developed.

The training is scheduled for April to June with 11 recovered individuals participating. Phase II – Delivery and EvaluationSupport is being sought from Bell, the Mental Health Foundation and Medavie Health Foundation to coordinate the delivery and evaluation of individual peer support.

Lighting the Way Forward: Peer

Mentorship

Staff at schools and others working in community are often the front line on early intervention and support for youth with eating disorders. We focused on developing and piloting a resource for Guidance Counselors, which can then be adapted for other groups. Information from the academic literature, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Comprehensive Health Schools Prevention Programs, Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders, the National Eating Disorders Association’s Educator Toolkit and many other sources was synthesized for the guide. In 2015 we will be rolling out the completed Guide with an accompanying workshop for staff, with plans to revise for other stakeholders.

Special thanks to Dr. Joanne Gusella, Dr. Laura Conners, and the 28 Guidance Counselors, principles, Teen Health Centre Coordinators, and other school staff for reviewing the guide.

Education for adults who work with youth

We continued to share information about eating disorders, respond to requests for information, and provide assistance navigating the mental health system. Over 400 copies of our Eating Disorders: What Parents Need to Know handout (Developed in partnership with the IWK) were distributed, and we are in the process of having it translated into two other languages. Eating Disorders NS utilizes social media including Twitter, Facebook and Youtube for knowledge transfer/exchange, sharing new research, reinforcing our key messages, connecting with other in the field, and promoting peer support and our groups. Between January and March we ramped up our online presence with the following results: Facebook: 97 posts, 1941 clicks, with a potential

reach of 18,000 Twitter: 263 tweets, 121 clicks with a potential reach

of 25,900 We also launched a Youtube channel with 9 videos highlighting stories of recovery. We launched a microsite for Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which will be rolled into the new Eating Disorders NS website.

During Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we held panel discussion on recovery, an info session on peer support groups, a panel discussion on What Parents Need to Know, a workshop on recovery, and karma yoga classes.

Eating Disorders NS was featured on CBC Radio Cape Breton, CBC Radio Halifax, Radio Canada, Eastlink TV, CTV’s Live at Five House Calls, CTV’s Mental Health Minute and more.

Sharing Information and raising awareness

Eating Disorders are serious and complex mental illnesses

Eating Disorders can impact anyone, regardless of gender, age, or background.

With treatment, support, and hope recovery is possible

2014/2015 Expenditures

2014/2015 Revenue

Our work would not

be possible without

the generous support

from our funders

Department of Health, Mental Health and Addictions $49,000

Medavie Health Foundation $15,000

IWK Community Grants $11,000

Cape Breton DHA Mental Health and Addiction Services $3,800

Travel $4,302

Communications $5,949

Salaries $44,584

Honorariums $9,559

Materials $2,463

Evaluation & Bookkeeping $1,838

Other $5,612

This work would be not possible without our amazing volunteers, supporters and partners.

Amy NorthAmy PezzenteAmy RizzutoAnna ElmiraAnne Marie CoolenBeth McDougallBev CadhamBrad HolleyBrigitte DanielsCourtney ElliotDerek CowieDr. Laura ConnersDr Hali BauldDr. Linda BayerDr Joanne GusellaDr. Aaron KeshenDr. Emily OrrDustin Linden-SmithHillary FergusonJillian Cole

Jillian McEwanJoanne ElliotKathleen ThompsonKelly PeckhamKim McPhersonLaura DixonLaura WayLindsay ArthuthnotMarcia TiroMarrian Abou-El-HayMarta MahihiMeghan ClarksonMelanie BowerNancy SheppardPatty PattendenRon PattersonSang-Gye BushmanSotiria TsirigotisSven PlanettaTanya HamiltonTori Hessian

We couldn’t have done this without

you.

And of course, the Self-Help Connection

902-229-8436info@eatingdisordersns.caeatingdisordersns.ca63 King StreetDartmouth, NS B2Y 2R8