Support & Help Tools
SUPPORT & HELP TOOLS
Seeking professional help
Body image concerns and eating disorders are serious psychological illnesses – people are not having these thoughts and feelings by choice, or to get attention, and they can’t just snap out of it. One of the best things that can happen, particularly early on in the piece, is for young people to share their thoughts and concerns, and to open up about their behaviours. It is worth you asking questions, and talking to them. The National Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for Eating Disorder Collaborations provides detailed guidance on the signs to look out for, and how to approach someone and have a conversation about their body image concerns or eating disorder.
If you are in Australia, you can also call the Butterfly Foundation helpline on 1800 33 4673, email the Helpline or use webchat to seek support for yourself or someone you know. You can search for ANZAED credentialed eating disorder providers here
Resources and links
We strongly recommend that you open up to anyone you feel comfortable with – whether that is a friend, sibling, parent, carer, teacher, or other trusted adult. Talking to someone is better than talking to no one!
There are many professionals and people who can support you – you can try talking to your GP, school counselor, or other health professional if you like and trust them.
You can’t tell how someone feels about their body, or whether someone has an eating disorder, by looking at them. However there are lots of warning signs that you can look out for in terms of the things that people are saying or what they are doing that might indicate that there is an issue that would benefit from support. The Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for Eating Disorders outline these warning signs in detail.
In Australia
Butterfly Foundation is Australia’s national charity for eating disorders and body image concerns, offering a wide range of resources, articles and support. If you or someone you know is experiencing an eating disorder or body image concerns you can call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (ED HOPE), e-mail support@butterfly.org.au or chat online to counsellors via butterfly.org.au.
Butterfly’s support services are available to everyone 8am-Midnight 7 days a week. No matter what stage you or your loved one is at, their friendly counsellors who have specialist training in eating disorders and body image will be able to direct you through to resources that can help you or your loved one.
Butterfly also has a Referral Database which acts as a directory of professionals screened for an understanding of eating disorders and body image concerns so people Australia-wide can get help in recovering or caring for someone with an eating disorder or body image concerns.
Size Inclusive Health Australia
www.sizeinclusivehealth.org.au
Learn more and find a verified weight neutral provider:
ANZAED
www.connected.anzaed.org.au
Find a credentialed eating disorder clinician in the Connect:ED directory
Eating Disorders Queensland
www.eatingdisordersqueensland.org.au
Eating Disorders Queensland has information and services for those in Queensland
National Eating Disorders Collaboration
www.nedc.com.au
The National Eating Disorders Collaboration has resources for professionals, parents and carers
Eating Disorders Victoria
www.eatingdisorders.org.au
The National Eating Disorders Collaboration has resources for professionals, parents and carers
Eating Disorder Families Australia [EDFA]
www.edfa.org.au
A national organisation providing support, education and advocacy services for carers and families impacted by an eating disorder
International
