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May 5, 2009 NEW DISORDERED-EATING PROGRAM TO EXPAND TREATMENT AND RESOURCES ACROSS PROVINCE– – –Multi-disciplinary Team, Focus on Early Intervention To Boost Supports for Manitobans on Road to Recovery: Irvin-Ross The province is developing a new, community-based program that will provide youth, adults and families with timely access to early intervention and treatment of disordered eating, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today.
“Disordered eating can cause long-term psychological, social and physical health problems, and put incredible strain on families,” said Irvin-Ross. “Early intervention is key to preventing or reducing the effects of disordered eating and this new program will help us provide timely access to needed services in a community setting.”
The new disordered-eating program will focus on providing early access to assessment and treatment for youth and adults who do not need hospital care, both in Winnipeg and rural communities. It will also provide followup services to patients who have recently been released from hospital and supports for parents and families of those living with an eating disorder.
The province is working with community partners to find an appropriate space for the program and expects to launch the new initiative this fall.
In the coming months, a multi-disciplinary clinical team with expertise in disordered-eating treatment and co-occurring conditions, such as depression, anxiety or addictions, will be created. The program will also have capacity to provide consultation and training in the areas of disordered eating to rural and northern health-care providers. The province will invest $238,000 this year on the program.
“I am thrilled that this initiative is moving forward,” said Elaine Stevenson, a member of the Provincial Working Group for Eating Disorders and administrator of the Alyssa Stevenson Eating Disorder Memorial Trust. “This is a very important step as we develop a co-ordinated approach on treatment, prevention, education and awareness to help anyone across the province who is battling an eating disorder.”
The new program will connect closely with disordered-eating programs and agencies, as well as other mental-health organizations.
“It’s important to have a range of services and treatment options available to individuals with an eating disorder,” said Elvera Watson, regional co-ordinator of eating disorders at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “Together, community and hospital-based treatment programs will provide hope for the Manitobans dealing with these difficult disorders and give much-needed support to their families.”
The minister noted that development of a new disordered-eating program builds on other recent investments in mental health including:
· announcing plans to develop a first-of-its-kind mental-health emergency room;
· investing more than $8 million over four years to help prevent youth suicide, improve access to mental-health care and provide hope and opportunity to young people across Manitoba;
· providing $1.8 million to hire 20 additional mental-health-care and spiritual-care providers to work in regional health authorities across the province;
· investing $2.8 million to create teams of healthy-living professionals to address chronic disease prevention and promote healthy-living services across the province;
· providing $50,000 in provincial funding for Artbeat Studio to continue its support of artists living with mental-health issues; and
· developing a first-class, multi-agency centre to enhance supports for Manitobans living with addictions and mental-health challenges.
Irvin-Ross said today’s announcement marks the proclamation of Mental Health Week in Manitoba, which takes place May 4 to 10.
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