Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) is a national movement from February 1 to 7 each year. National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) has identified this year’s campaign, Embracing Possibilities, which aims to highlight the power of community-driven solutions, innovative care models, and insightful educational opportunities that aim to transform the eating disorder care landscape. Eating disorder groups across Canada unite to mark EDAW with a national week of action aimed at educating the public, highlighting available supports, and advocating for meaningful change.

Highlighting supports such as our very own Outpatient Eating Disorder Program which has been developed in collaboration with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences to meet the needs of youth and families. Kinark bridges the gap for clients who require ongoing support from more intensive treatment to less intensive treatment in our communities. We also work with clients from the community, as a first step in treatment to prevent hospitalization and the need for more intensive services.
By working together, we can break down barriers and illuminate pathways to equitable, accessible, and inclusive support for all.
Just by visiting our website, reading these resources, and by sharing our posts online – you’re doing your part to help raise awareness for eating disorders. But if you’re looking to learn more about signs, symptoms, and how to access care – please explore some of these important highlights:

As a parent or guardian, what should I look out for?
• Drastic Weight Changes: Rapid and significant weight loss or gain.
• Excessive concern with Body Image: Constantly talking about weight, body shape, or appearance.
• Diet Restrictions: Following extremely restrictive diets, eliminating entire food groups, or avoiding social eating situations.
• Excessive Exercise: Engaging in compulsive and intense exercise routines, even when injured or fatigued.
• Avoidance of Meals: Consistently skipping meals or making excuses to avoid eating with others.
• Social Withdrawal: Avoiding social gatherings that involve food or body exposure.
• Mood Swings: Experiencing mood fluctuations, irritability, or heightened anxiety around food and eating.
• Constant Self-Critique: Being overly critical of oneself, often tied to body image and appearance.
• Increased Social Media Use: Excessive viewing of social media content relating to health and beauty.

Facts
• Nearly 1 million individuals are diagnosed with an eating disorder at any given time, early detection and intervention are important.
• Eating disorders often co-occur with other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and substance abuse.
• Individuals with eating disorders are at a higher risk for self-harm and suicide.
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate among all mental health diagnoses.
• Eating disorders can be associated with significant compromise in every organ system, including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, dermatological, hematological, skeletal, and central nervous system.
_{Learn more and get informed about eating disorders by visiting NEDIC, the source of these facts and details.}

Who’s Eligible?
• Individuals aged 12 to 17 affected by an eating disorder
• Clients who are greater than 80% wellness weight
• Clients must be consuming some nutrition in solid food
• Clients must have a primary care provider who has agreed to do medical monitoring for the duration of the program

How do I refer the program to others?
• Primary health care practitioners wishing to make a referral for youth aged 12 to 17 may do so by downloading the referral form from the Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorder Program page and faxing it to Kinark’s Central Intake at 1-905-579-4449.
• Primary health care practitioners must complete a referral form to the program and be prepared to medically follow the youth throughout their duration in the program.

How can I self-refer?
Youth 12 to 17 years of age, a parent, or guardian of youth who are interested in the Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorder Program can contact Kinark’s Intake directly at 1-888-454-6275 to make a referral. Please note:
• The initial call will take approximately 5 minutes for our intake team to gather basic demographic information and open a file. A mental health clinician will then contact you within 2-3 business days to discuss the program further.
• After initial contact, a referral form must be completed by your primary care practitioner before commencing treatment.