Empowering Support: Bridging the Gap in Eating Disorder Education

How Mind Blossom's Evidence-Based Program is Transforming Caregiver Confidence and Competence

Research carried out by Pernille Yilmam, PhD

Supporting someone with an eating disorder is incredibly challenging. Whether you are a parent, friend, teacher, or school nurse, the experience can be overwhelming and perplexing. You might find yourself questioning why they are so preoccupied with their appearance, why they adhere to specific rituals, and why they sometimes seem uninterested in recovering despite your tireless efforts to help. The journey can often feel isolating, frustrating, and confusing.

The Growing Epidemic of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental illnesses. Every year, an increasing number of people across all ages exhibit signs of disordered eating. Since 2015, there has been a staggering 100% rise in hospital admissions for eating disorders among individuals under twenty. Yet, only a fraction of these individuals receive treatment. Stigma from social circles, families, and the healthcare system still poses a threat to accessing help. Caregivers and professionals working with youth are often unaware of symptoms and feel uncertain about how to provide assistance.

The Importance of Education

It has never been more critical to empower adults with skills to understand, detect, discuss, and support individuals with eating disorders. Accessing reliable information about eating disorders through reputable educational programs has been very challenging. Unless you have regular appointments with a mental health professional, finding trustworthy resources can be difficult.

To bridge this gap, our nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing mental health education to the public launched a new evidence-based, expert-led virtual program. This program is designed for anyone interested but particularly caregivers, loved ones, and professionals working with youth.

What Our Program Offers

Throughout the course:

• Attendees learned about the roots and triggers of eating disorders.
• They explored the short-term and long-term physical impacts.
• Various risk factors were discussed.
• Insights into how the care system works were provided.
• Guidance on determining appropriate levels of care was shared.

Importantly:

• The program featured over ten personal stories from individuals living with or supporting someone with an eating disorder.

Positive Outcomes from Our Educational Initiative

We were thrilled to discover that attendees not only found the sessions highly enjoyable but also said that they gained valuable new knowledge. Given that enjoyment and relevance are key factors in effective learning:

• We measured a marked improvement in attendees' knowledge base.
• There was a 20% increase in their confidence in discussing eating disorders.
• Attendees reported leaving the program feeling empowered and resourceful in supporting themselves or others in accessing and finding eating disorder support.

Out of 16 attendees:

• 6 earned certification.
• These certified individuals are now equipped to support their loved ones, students, friends, and clients in an evidence-based, competent manner.

While our efforts are not a complete solution to the vast challenges our society faces regarding eating disorders:

• They represent a significant step in the right direction on a largely uncharted path.

We are excited to continue offering this program to anyone who wants to better understand and support individuals with eating disorders.

Conclusion

Empowering those who support individuals battling eating disorders is crucial for fostering recovery and dismantling stigma. Through education initiatives like ours:

• We can bridge knowledge gaps.
• Enhance caregiver confidence.

If you are interested in gaining access or have any questions about our program:
Please don't hesitate to reach out!

Together we can make strides toward understanding and effectively supporting those affected by eating disorders.

Course webpage: https://mindblossom.org/navigatingeatingdisorderscourse/

Mind Blossom’s website: www.mindblossom.org

About the author: Pernille Yilmam, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Mind Blossom, Inc. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience from Emory University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. Pernille has been recognized with several awards and she is featured on numerous podcasts and webinars. She also writes a blog for Psychology Today, focusing on the neuroscience and psychology of body image, and regularly teaches caregivers, staff members, and youth about mental health and illness across the U.S. and abroad. Pernille's inspiration to establish Mind Blossom stemmed from her own experience with serious mental illness. Having struggled with a severe eating disorder for over 15 years, from which she has now recovered, she keenly felt the public's lack of education on this deadly disease. Through Mind Blossom, she aims to fill this gap and provide much-needed resources and support.

About Mind Blossom: Mind Blossom is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing mental health education to the public, with a special emphasis on developing and implementing free programs in underserved communities. Since its founding in early 2023, Mind Blossom has directly impacted the lives of hundreds of caregivers, teens, staff members, and individuals struggling with mental illness. By promoting mental health education, Mind Blossom is building a community characterized by evidence-based knowledge, competence, and compassion.