If reading this article raises significant concerns for you, please reach out for help. Get in touch with your GP or if you are very distressed, please phone a help line right now: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or the Butterfly National Help Line 1800 334673 which operates 8am-12 midnight, 7 days a week.
Where can I learn more or get help?
Here are some resources (including websites, organisations, and books) that seek to support anyone impacted by an eating disorder. Please note that all suggested resources come with trigger warnings and an acknowledgement that what is helpful for one person, may be less helpful for another. It is also generally agreed that children and adolescents struggling with an eating disorder should not be given books or other informational material on eating disorders.
Organisations supporting eating disorders in Australia
- Butterfly Foundation is Australia’s national charity for eating disorders. It provides support for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and negative body image issues, and their carers. It is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. The website has a wealth of information
- National Eating Disorders Collaboration website has some very good, accurate information and facts about eating disorders as well as resources for families, carers and those living with an eating disorder
- Eating Disorders Families Australia offers resources to support, educate and empower families affected by an eating disorder
- Inside Out Institute – Australia’s national eating disorder research and clinical excellence institute
Help Lines and Crisis Lines
(including text and online support)
Butterfly National Help Line – call 1800 ED Help (1800334673) from 8am-12 midnight, 7 days a week. This is a free and confidential help and advice line, not a crisis line. You can also email support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au or chat online https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/chat-online/
Crisis support
- Lifeline 13 11 14 (text and online chat also available)
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 (chat online and email also available)
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
- If life is in danger call 000
For carers and those supporting someone with an eating disorder
- COVID Help Hub offers an abundance of resources and advice for anyone who is trying to support someone with an eating disorder and for individuals who find themselves struggling. There is good advice on a range of topics such as COVID-19 and eating disorders, navigating social media, males experiencing eating disorders, resources for Indigenous peoples, managing relapses and coming out of lockdown
- Let’s Talk Podcast
- Eating Disorders: Beyond the Unknown Podcast series
Secular books
- Life Without Ed (2003) and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me by Jenni Schaefer, 2009
- 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb, 2011
- When Your Teen Has an Eating Disorder: Practical Strategies to Help Your Teen Recover from Anorexia, Bulimia & Binge Eating by Lauren Muhlheim, 2018
Christian books
- Eating Disorders: The Quest for Thinness by Edward Welch, 2008
- Thin Enough: My Spiritual Journey Through the Living Death of an Eating Disorder by Sheryle Cruise, 2006
- Anorexia and Bulimia: Control That is Out of Control by June Hunt, 2014
- Table for Two: Biblical Counsel for Eating Disorders by David and Krista Dunham, 2020
- The Wisdom of Your Body: Embodiment as the Road to Healing, Wholeness and Connection by Hilary McBride, 2021
- Chains be Broken: Finding Freedom from Cutting, Anxiety, Depression, Anorexia and Suicide by Shannon Rowell, 2010
- The Real Me: Being the Girl God Sees by Natalie Grant, 2005
- Eating Disorders: Hope for the Hungering Soul by Mark Shaw, Bethany Spence and Rachel Bailey, 2014
- Teenage Guys: Exploring Issues Adolescent Guys Face and Strategies to Help Them by Steve Gerali, 2006
Christian organisations
- Finding Balance: Eat Well, Live Well provides Christ-centred resources and courses based in the US
- Eating Disorder Hope is a Christian organisation dedicated to promoting recovery from eating disorders for people of faith. While it is an US organisation, the website offers some good articles and recovery tools for Christians
Support groups and treatment programs
The Butterfly Foundation offers the following support groups and programs:
- Online support groups
- Face-to-face support groups
- Short support programs for people experiencing an eating disorder or people caring for someone with an eating disorder
- Outpatient treatment programs for young people aged 18-25 years old. This is a 12-week program for anyone in Australia who wants to recover from an eating disorder, with financial assistance available by application
- Peter Beumont eating disorders outpatient group programs
- Residential treatment at Wandi Nerida, Australia’s only specialist eating disorder residential treatment and recovery centre, which opened in 2021
- Workshops for people working with young people and parents seminars
Body Matters Australia offers the following support:
- Support groups for sufferers led by a peer consultant who has a lived experience of an eating disorder
Eat Disorders Families Australia offers the following support:
- Strive support groups have groups specifically targeted at siblings, carers and carers of males with an eating disorder
- An online course designed to help those who are supporting a loved one to recovery, including parents, partners, siblings and friends https://www.supportwise.com.au/
- A helpful website with many articles on eating disorders https://www.recoverywarriors.com/
Peer mentoring programs in Australia
Recovery Record App Recovery Record is an app that can help you manage your journey to recovery and links with your treatment team so they can monitor your progress between sessions.
