INTRODUCTION
In 2008,we at Featherweight Inc., will once again renew our efforts to educate and advocate--We will do what we can to reach out to our community and continue to ask for your support.
Decision 2008 this being an election year, it is important to know where the candidates stand on issues important to our cause. I contacted the campaigns (via-web sites) of both presidential candidates, asking their stand on mental health parity--which was passed in NYS ( Timothy's Law), but is still lacking in most of the country.
Senator Obama's campaign did answer, telling me where to find that information on their web site---to date,
I have not heard from Senator McCain. from the web site of Barack Obama:Improved Mental Health Care:
Mental illness affects approximately one in five American families. The National Alliance on Mental Health estimates that untreated mental health illnesses cost the U.S. more than $100 billion per year.
As President, Obama will support mental health parity so that coverage for serious mental illnesses are provided on the same terms and conditions as other illnesses and diseases. for more information on pending parity legislation:click on the advocacy link on this pageor go towww.eatingdisorderscoalition.org and click on legislative update.
ED Study Results The first nationally representative study of eating disorders in the U.S. appeared in the Feb. 2007 edition of Biological Psychiatry. The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) is a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population -that was administered, face-to-face, to a sample of 9,282 English speaking adults ages 18 and older between Feb. 2001 and Dec. 2003. Among the results......... * Eating disorders frequently impair the sufferers home, work. personal and social life.* Binge eating is more common than anorexia or bulimia, and is commonly associated with severe obesity.* Eating disorders display substantial comorbidity with other health disorders.* While eating disorders often coexist with other mental health disorders, eating disorders often go undiagnosed and untreated. A low number of sufferers obtain treatment. It is estimated that several hundred Americans die each year with eating disorders as the primary cause of death--but the CDC has yet to begin regular reporting on eating disorders listed as either the primary or contributing cause of death.
SUPPORT GROUPS
We are interested in forming two forms of support groups. One for Families and Friends of someone suffering from an eating disorder and One for currently suffering.
Before we make the commitment for these support groups, we will need feed back from this community. Please reply promptly with any interests and our ability to help you will be on its way!
ADVOCACY
Your help is needed in th is new year! Featherweight is working hard in getting crucial Legislation passed. To learn what you can do help click here.
Deb's Closing Thoughts :
As a parent of a child with an eating disorder, I know the fear--and feelings of absolute helplessness and hopelessness. I knew next to nothing about the disease that was killing my child--and I suffered as she did. Even now, 5 years after Heathers death, I still wonder what, if anything, I could/should have done differently---here are a few suggestions that may help: Learn all you can about the illness--this should be no different than a parent would do for any other condition. Psychiatric illnesses may seen difficult to grasp, but there are materials available that describe them accurately. Ask for help, ask questions---read and read some more. Knowing your loved one's illness inside and out is the single best shot at helping--------and don't be ashamed that your child has an eating disorder---it is an illness and should be treated just like any other disease or illness. Go find yourself a good therapist---you need a knowledgeable, objective guide to help you through this intact. Don't give eating disorders the upper hand---you do not want the weakest part of the link determining the most important decisions of the family. This is a hard one and requires constant re-balancing. Sure, there will be times (when your child is in true danger), that you will need to respond to the chaos being created, but for the most part, the illness needs to take a back seat for all involved as quickly and as appropriately as possible. Pace yourself---This is a marathon, not a sprint---something most families cannot begin to grasp until they are already exhausted by their efforts. Accept---that you and your family will not come out of this "the same"--this is like going through a fire. There will be mountains to regret and mourn, but there is also vast opportunities to learn about oneself and others in ways that never would have come out in easier times.
