The anguish of any death is unacceptable.
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But when story after story of still another family’s agonising loss kept rolling across Christine Morgan’s desk, she knew it was time to act.
The chief executive officer of Australia’s peak organisation for eating disorders says the weight of evidence points to a “woeful” lack of understanding among health professionals of a serious and complex mental illness.
Misconceptions and mismanagement magnify the problem.
The Butterfly Foundation states people with an eating disorder are 31 times more likely to die by suicide.
At the same time the rate of eating disorders in the Australian population is rising with one in 10 people reportedly affected.
The fact so many families are crying out for help after losing a loved one to the illness prompted the foundation to sound the alarm.
As part of its 2017 MayDay campaign, four families (including Albury’s Annette and Stuart Baker) bravely shared their stories of loss and the agony of grappling with inflexible treatment options and a poorly equipped health system.
The foundation has called for urgent changes to the health system including specific workforce training for medical professionals, Medicare-recognised assistance, and ensuring eating disorders are seen as “core business” for primary health providers.
One of the biggest issues, according to Ms Morgan, is that eating disorders are too often defined – and dismissed – by the “behaviours”.
“The illness is not recognised as a neuro-psychiatric disorder,” she says.
“Often early warning signs are dismissed and it is only taken seriously when the person’s body is so impaired they require hospitalisation.”
Experts agree early intervention is “critical” to halting the ravages of the illness.
“We have to be treating people way before they hit hospital,” Ms Morgan says.
“Once the illness is triggered, it changes the way the brain reacts – if we get in early the brain hasn’t become hard-wired.
“Once the brain is hard-wired the behaviours impact on the body and it can’t go on, which in turn increases psychological distress.”
Multi-disciplinary specialist treatment, which might include GPs, paediatricians, psychiatric counselling and dietitians, is required over an extended period of time, Ms Morgan says.
“It’s about community-based support – we shouldn’t need more beds in hospital,” she adds.
Ms Morgan is “fired up” about addressing the glaring gaps in the current health system and it’s caught the attention of a receptive federal health minister.
It’s so the countless families who turn to her every day seeking support and answers never have to endure the trauma of watching a loved one lose their mind and body to this devastating illness.
- If you of someone you care for needs help or support call The Butterfly Foundation: 1800 334 673 or Lifeline: 13 11 14