The medical consequences of eating disorders can go unrecognized, even by experienced clinicians
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with significant, life-threatening medical and psychiatric morbidity and mortality, regardless of an individual’s weight. Anorexia Nervosa (AN), in particular, has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Risk of premature death is 6-12 times higher in women with AN as compared to the general population, adjusting for age. (more…)
Amy Candido lives in recovery from eating disorders
The beginning of February marks the launch of the Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Feb. 3-9, 2013).
PEDAW coordinator Amy Candido has a passion for prevention, after being tortured for years by her own eating disorder. Amy’s eating disorder began in grade eight and continued until her mid twenties. “I was existing, not living,” she says. (more…)
Loving our bodies and ourselves is the focus of eating disorders prevention efforts
The Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign is launched the first full week in February with activities and events taking place throughout the year. It’s a British Columbia province-wide effort to raise awareness around prevention and early intervention of eating disorders as well as media literacy, resiliency, building healthy body image and self-esteem.
You are invited to take part in supporting the ongoing Love Our Bodies, Love Ourselves movement in promoting health and preventing disordered eating and eating disorders. (more…)
Drum circles provide support, improving emotions and feelings in people struggling with eating disorders
A drum circle is a rhythm-based event where people gather in a circle to express themselves with African drums and percussion instruments. A facilitator guides the session, encouraging and supporting people as they reconnect with their innate sense of rhythm. Inclusiveness is a core principle–people of all backgrounds, mobility, ages and skill levels (even first-time beginners) can participate. (more…)
Workplace managers say that they’re informed about mental health issues, but would benefit from training to help employees with mental health problems stay at work or return to work successfully and healthily
The Canadian Standards Association together with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, has released a national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace, along with guidance for staged implementation.
The national standard defines and sets a higher standard for workplace mental health with a goal of protecting and improving the mental health of Canadian workers. It’s designed for both employers and employees. (more…)
Quebec could be the first Canadian province to allow terminally ill patients to end their lives
A landmark report to the Quebec legislature in March 2012 [opens to PDF] suggested the province legalize doctor-assisted euthanasia. It recommended the Quebec government make it legal for doctors to help the terminally ill die, if they want to, under “exceptional circumstances.” The report was issued after more than two years of deliberations and public hearings. (more…)
