Eating Disorders Awareness Week – The ED Stigma and Importance of Awareness
What is Eating Disorders Awareness Week?
Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) has been created to help educate and bring awareness to eating disorders, connect people to each other and resources, and to eliminate the stigma around mental health.
According to NEDA, the National Eating Disorder Association, “Approximately 29 million Americans experience a clinically significant eating disorder during their lifetime. But only 1/3 will ever receive treatment.”
What is a Stigma?
A stigma is defined as the discrimination or negative attitude against someone else based on a particular characteristic or condition, such as an eating disorder. There are two types of stigmas: social and self-perceived.
Social Stigma – refers to negative attitudes from others towards those with mental illness.
Self-Perceived Stigma – refers to negative attitudes and feelings that are internalized by those with mental illness. These are often the most dangerous due to them influencing one’s self-esteem, self-worth, and self-love.
What Effect Does an Eating Disorder Stigma Have?
Eating disorders are extremely difficult mental illnesses and are often associated with feelings of shame or secrecy. The negative attitudes and feelings from social and self-perceived stigmas can have a negative effect on those with eating disorders such as:
- Can lead to bullying, harassment, or violence from friends, family, coworkers, or others in the community
- Keep those effected by eating disorders from seeking treatment or help
- Further develop worsening or life-threatening symptoms and poor mental health
- Lead to avoidance and social rejection
- Isolate individuals from friends and family who may not understand or accept the seriousness of eating disorders
How to Reduce or Eliminate Stigma? What Are the Benefits?
Everyone can play a vital role in reducing or eliminating the stigma around mental health. There are four main ways to get started: talk, educate, connect, and get involved.
Talk
Continue to advocate and raise more awareness. This can help others to feel seen by sharing struggles and challenges associated with eating disorders. The more we talk about mental illness, the easier and more natural it will become. Ultimately, reducing those feelings of shame and need for secrecy.
Educate
Providing accurate information about mental illness, it’s symptoms, warning signs, and effects can help with early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. By sharing statistics and resources, it can help society learn that mental health is important and should be taken seriously. Reducing misinformation can help others better understand mental illness.
Connect
Helps create a safe community and space to open-up about mental health. A better understanding of mental illness can help others to share compassion and empathy for not only those with mental illness, but for their care takers, allies, and support system. Connection can link individuals to resources for further education as well as resources to seek help.
Get Involved
Participating in events and campaigns such as EDAW or NEDA walks can help continue to spread awareness. Joining, advocating for, or donating to non-profit organizations such as NEDA can increase support systems, research, and financial aid for those with mental illness.
Whether you take an active role by joining the cause, or a more passive one by sharing statistics and resources through social media, you are playing a vital part in breaking through the mental health stigma. Your participation creates a safe space for others and is monumental to those who are fighting mental illness. Thank you. As always, remember I love you, and you should love you too!
If you or someone you know is struggling, head to the Resources page for help or further education.
If you need someone to talk to, feel free to reach out on my contact page. I’d love to hear from you!