Eating Disorder Foundation reaching out to offer support

CORNER BROOK Now that the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador has opened its office in St. Johns and the provincial government has allocated funding for an outpatient treatment centre, the next step is to reach out to the people.

Vince Withers, chairperson of the foundations board of directors, is coming out to the city next week to hold an eating disorder public meeting.

Withers started the foundation following the death of his daughter Renata in August 2005. Renata Withers had struggled with an eating disorder for five years.

Withers will be joined at the meeting by Stephanie Kendall, the foundations west coast representative and an eating disorder survivor.

Kendall says since the foundation was started there have been many inquiries from the west coast of the province and that is why Withers wanted to come out to let people know how the foundation can help them.

The biggest thing is to actually create awareness and increase support on the west coast because we are getting so much feedback (from here), says Kendall.

Ive gotten calls from schools, from teachers, families, people who are inquiring what can I do, are these signs and symptoms of eating disorders.

People are realizing that it is a really big problem, says Kendall. Since the foundation was started and after Kendall shared her own story she feels people are certainly more willing and more eager to open up about whats happening with their family.

All of this can be a bit overwhelming at times but Kendall says she is at a point in her recovery where she feels she can help others.

Im doing really well, and since I am I want to do what I can. I really want to be there to support people and their families ... and the foundation will certainly help with that.

We want to build a community support for people, so we will link people with other resources in the community.

Until the outpatient centre is opened people will continue to have to leave the province for treatment, but Kendall says just the allocation of funding meant a lot to her.

I could just see, certainly could feel that there was so much hope for so many people.

The eating disorder public meeting will take place on June 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the AV theatre on the second floor at Western Memorial Regional Hospital.

On the agenda for the night is a presentation on eating disorders by a health professional, a presentation on the role and overview of the foundation and its plans, an overview of the proposed outpatient intensive care eating disorder centre and a chance for questions and answers. Kendall will also talk about her experience and that of her family.

The meeting is open to the public, says Kendall and we encourage people to call if they have any questions.

She says it will be of benefit to anyone affected by an eating disorder and informational for health professions who may have questions at to where they can refer their patients.

For more information on the meeting, or the Eating Disorder Foundation, call Vince Withers at 682-4440 or Stephanie Kendall at 638-0006.