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Eating disorder specialists say they are dealing with a ‘tsunami’ of referrals and patient visits, and numbers have skyrocketed since the shutdown.
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Support services say they are seeing a huge increase in demand for help. Source: 1 NEWS
Co-director of the New Zealand Eating Disorders Clinic, Kellie Lavender, says her waiting list for treatment is 3 months and some patients are being hospitalized while they wait.
“It feels like a tsunami right now,” Lavender said.
“We recently received a couple of emails from people who have been on our list to let me know that they are now in the hospital – that’s really difficult because we want to contact people before that happens.”
The New Zealand Eating Disorders Clinic received 23 referrals from patients in January and February this year, but that number soared to 52 in July. The numbers are still nearly double pre-covid levels – Last month, Lavender says there were 41 referrals.
“Most families have reported that the confinement has influenced the reason why they now see us,” he said.
Lavender says anecdotally, things like isolation and the forced change of routine by the confinement were factors in people’s illnesses.
“Their mood has dropped, so the focus on what they are eating and how much activity they are doing has changed significantly.
“We know that what is dangerous in terms of developing eating disorders is the idea of restricted eating in some way, and there was actually a lot of focus during the lockdown on food and eating and what not to do.”
Hannah *, 15, began treatment for anorexia in 2019, but her lowest point was during confinement.
“I developed a lot of destructive behaviors during the March, April and May lockdown; it’s in those dark times when you’re in your own head that it can be very easy not to want to go out. When I was deep in my eating disorder I didn’t want to get better. .
He said it took him six weeks to get treatment when he got sick last year, and he feels for other young people that they may have to wait much longer.
“Treatment for eating disorders is not easily accessible,” he said.
“With erectile dysfunction you need treatment as soon as you recognize that it is a problem; you need help that day, you cannot afford to wait three months.”
A pediatrician who spoke to 1 News anonymously said they are concerned about the state of care for eating disorders in New Zealand.
They said admissions to their hospital have increased in recent years and worsened during the confinement.
They also said that specialized resources are depleted and that patients do not receive the care they need.
“It’s frustrating for families, they don’t have enough time with specialists; if it continues as it is now, it will not be manageable.”
In a statement, the Health Ministry said that, although it does not routinely collect data on waiting lists, “there has not been a significant difference in people’s access to eating disorder services since March 2020, compared to with the same time period in 2019 “.
The ministry also said it is aware that there is “pressure” on all mental health services, including services for eating disorders.
“The Ministry recognizes that some eating disorder providers will have waiting lists from time to time,” he said.
But support services say they are seeing a different pattern.
Nicki Wilson of the New Zealand Eating Disorders Association says the number of calls to her helpline has increased 400 percent over the same period last year.
“We are finding that people are not diagnosed promptly, so they feel worse before they are referred for treatment.”
You want to see a review and more resources for treatment, including support for GPs when it comes to diagnosing eating disorders.
“There seems to be no data that the ministry [of health]For example, you could look to determine if what is in place is appropriate, because we would say it is not. “
If this story has caused you problems, you can contact EDANZ at 0800 233 269
