Friday, April 30, 2010

International Resources

I know a plethora of eating disorder resources and can share them with people readily. Those resources (including hotlines, websites, forums, projects, blogs, organizations, support groups, and therapists), however, are only for the United States. And I've been thinking (and worrying) about how disheartening that must be for a lot of people.

A woman commented on one of my videos recently, telling me how she'd been to see a doctor who passed off her bulimia as something that wasn't serious, how she has struggled to get help, how she doesn't know where to turn... because she's in Korea. She pleaded with me to help her - what could she do?, she asked.

Well, I immediately began searching the internet for resources in Korea. And let me tell you what a difficult time I had. I couldn't find a thing. I began to search broadly for eating disorder resources, and all I came up with were American sites, a few UK sites, and even fewer Australian sites. I know part of this is because I am using a search engine here in the United States. But I also know that it must be very hard for people in other countries to find the resources they need.

I couldn't find a single eating disorder hotline that wasn't in the USA or the UK. There's ANAD and NEDA and SomethingFishy's resources... but they can't help anyone who's not in the US.

So I responded to this viewer with encouragement and advice, but with a lack of actual resources of a place she could contact.

Well, after a lot of digging, I found two websites I'd like to share with you, especially as I know there are people from several different countries who read my blog.

The first is: Eating Disorder Hope International Treatment and Resources

This site lists several countries (by no means all, but it's better than anything else I've found) including Austria, China, Italy, and Japan as links, and when you click the link for the specific country, the site will list all the eating disorder resources available. It's wonderful.

The second is: an international links page for a UK Eating Disorders Association

On this page are a variety of services and organizations, marked by the flag of a specific country. Represented are the UK, Germany, New Zealand, the European Council on Eating Disorders, Canada, the US, etc.

Again, there are only a few countries represented here, but it's very helpful.

So, now, two things I'd like you to do if you can:

1) Pass these resources on to anyone you know (or use them yourself!)

2) Please tell me if you know of any other international resources or websites I can add to my list.

Thank you!

15 comments:

Nikki (Sarah) said...

awesome blog...awesome heart.

Imogen said...

Thanks so much for this list :-) I know in New Zealand, the sheer smallness of the place makes getting specialised/knowledgeable help insanely difficult. There are only a few dedicated inpatient beds for eating disorder patients in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. Even being able to pay doesn't get you far, unless you go to Australia - at great expense, and away from your friends and family - for treatment. A lack of specialists and treatment providers makes me suspect that eating disorders here are probably underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and that people are getting very general (rather than specialised) treatment. There's still an enormous stigma attached to mental illness here, too. Ugh, I know that probably sounds really negative, but... that's the situation here :-S

Anonymous said...

A few more resources:

UK Eating Disorder's Charity:
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Home

Eating Disorders Institute (part of a UK university):
http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/sites/edu/?id=13

A recovering anorexic's "DIY recovery section" on her site - brilliant for those recovering with little support:

http://themilkfreeway.wordpress.com/diy-recovery/

Australian resources for disorderd eating (scroll to bottom of page)
http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/consumers.cfm

Kia said...

Don't know if it helps, but if you go here

http://it.groups.yahoo.com/search?query=anoressia&sort=relevance

you can find a lot of links about resouces which help to fight against EDs in Italy...

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Thanks so much for the extra resources, everyone. :)

Veggie said...

I have a channel on YouTube where I upload my videos about anorexia too, so, as you wrote, Arielle, it happens quite often that people all over the world ask about resources in their countries…
Usually, I suggest this site:

http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=anorexia

Not a great thing, (at the first impact, it could seem a little bit chaotic, I know…) but it’s like a "box" where you can find some international resources about anorexia/bulimia/EDnos from several countries: USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Nederlands, Danmark, Portugal, Sweden, Polonia, France, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Cile… and maybe a few more I don’t remember right now…
Hope it could be helpful for everybody!

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Thank you, Veggie!

Johanna said...

Here are some European resources that I found, I agree, it’s very difficult to find something unless it’s your own country.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland:
http://www.hungrig-online.de/
GREAT German website with a whole lot of information about eating disorders. The website also provides a chat, a forum, several virtual support groups, hotlines, addresses of treatment centers and therapists (in Germany, Switzerland and Austria!), etc.

also very helpful:
http://ess-stoerungen.net/

just Germany:
http://www.anad.de
http://www.magersucht.de

In Germany you can also call any health insurance company and they will provide you with addresses. If that’s too embarrassing: just look at their website online, that should work fine as well.

France:
www.boulimie.com/ forum and information about eating disorders
http://www.zero-complexe.com/ addresses, forum, etc.

Spain:
http://www.foroanorexia.com/ forum


I hope this is useful for you! I admire your work so much, so if there is anything else I can do, let me know!
Johanna

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Johanna - Thank you so much. Those are great! :)

Anonymous said...

I am the viewer in Korea. Thank you so much for your response and this post. I dont know if you realize how much it means to me. You are truly...a gift.
Thank you

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Viewer in Korea - Thank you! I am so glad you read this post with the resources. I tried and tried to reply again to your YouTube message with any resources I could find, but YouTube was acting up and would not let me. I hope you will have luck with finding the help you need.

Israel Reader said...

I am currently living in Israel and I am involved very much in different Eating disorder clinics here, Israel has a very high success in long term cure for Eating disorders.
This is a good resource for someone who needs help here.
Btw Arielle- great Blog, I will follow!

http://www.hadassah-med.com/English/Eng_SubNavBar/Departments/Medical+departments/Medicine+Ein+Karem/Centers+of+Excellence/Eating+and+Weight+Disorders.htm

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Israel Reader - Thank you!!!

Cassie said...

Hi Arielle,
I live in Australia and our national ED organisation here is The Butterfly Foundation at www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au
:)

Arielle Bair, MSW, LSW said...

Thanks, Cassie. :)