The Cairns ‘Behind the Body Stigma’ event in July highlighted the services that children, adults, carers and families can access to support eating disorders.
Approximately 200,000 Queenslander’s live with an eating disorder and less than 30% will seek help.
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) and Eating Disorder Queensland (EDQ) were joint hosts of the event at Cairns Esplanade.
CHHHS has a team of mental health clinicians to support clients, both in hospital and in the community, including Advanced Mental Health Clinician Rebekah Allen.
‘There is so much confusion in the messaging around what to eat e.g. high protein, low carbs and fasting,’ said Rebekah.
‘People think you must be a certain size and weight to have an eating disorder.
‘Eating disorders are often associated with other conditions like OCD, autism spectrum (ASD), depression, anxiety and gender transitions.
‘The signs can be hard to spot but you may notice a loved one becomes more withdrawn, isolated, depressed or anxious. Behaviours may include hiding eating behaviour, not being able to eat out socially, eating in secret or withdrawal from social events. They may also be over-exercising and become fixated on calories and food groups.
‘For women, they may be trying to shrink their body, for men, they may be trying to bulk up.
‘I tell people that there’s no such thing as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food – the messaging around food and body image needs to start changing in order to get real change in the way people relate to food and their bodies.
‘We help people learn to trust their body and to eat a wide range of food groups.’
‘We aim to assist individuals to create a better relationship with food and encourage a weight neutral approach and to eat a wide range of foods, regularly and socially’
Amanda Long, Lived Experience Coordinator with Eating Disorder Queensland, spent 25 years with an eating disorder and now supports others with their recovery.
‘Eating Disorders Queensland has a Cairns-based eating disorder clinician and a bITE practitioner who work collaboratively with a team of lived experience workers. EDQ’s programs aim to meet clients where they are in their recovery through early intervention, including the bITE program, and a range of treatments including structured psychological interventions, group therapy, lived experience interventions, and psychosocial and meal support groups.’
‘We also coach families and carers who are supporting loved ones impacted by eating disorders.’
‘Eating disorders are very complex and can be a way for people to cope with impactful life events.’
By combining clinical expertise with the compassion of lived experience, EDQ offers a comprehensive, person-centred approach that empowers individuals and their support networks to navigate recovery with hope and resilience.
For more information:
Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact:
- General practitioner (GP)
- Eating Disorders Queensland - anyone over 16 years can self-refer/ no diagnosis required
- Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or support@butterfly.org.au
- Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
- For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14