Beyond Terminal: How Can We Support Families Through Severe Eating Disorders?
Beyond Terminal: How Can We Support Families Through Severe Eating Disorders?
This was an honest and open discussion about the complex realities facing families caring for loved ones with severe eating disorders. This event aimed to shift the focus from conversations about terminal anorexia and assisted death to the practical and emotional support families and sufferers need right now.
We dove into the difficult topics that families often navigate in silence—what happens when the healthcare system fails to provide adequate care, when loved ones refuse treatment, and when the path to recovery is unclear. We also discussed the emotional burden involved in caregiving, including the feelings of guilt and helplessness many families experience when a loved one is not getting better.
This conversation was an opportunity to engage in an honest, thoughtful, and compassionate dialogue about the real challenges facing families in this moment and the resources, care, and understanding they need to support their loved ones.
Our panelists include:
Judy Krasna: Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T., Judy will share insights from her extensive work supporting families in the eating disorder space and her personal journey with her daughter Gavriella’s battle with anorexia.
Katrin Kadel: Co-founder of Hungrige Herzen, Katrin will discuss the challenges her family faced during her daughter’s recovery and the critical need to increase access to new and innovative treatments.
Petra Zimmer: Co-founder of Hungrige Herzen, Petra will share her journey supporting her daughter through severe anorexia and the importance of compassionate, non-judgmental support for families.
Sarah Rowland: Co-founder of Eating Disorders Carer Support New Zealand, Sarah will discuss the systemic challenges families face in accessing adequate care and the critical need for policy change.
Chelsea Roff: Executive Director of Eat Breathe Thrive, dedicated to preventing and helping people recover from eating disorders.
Hosted in partnership with Eating Disorders Carer Support New Zealand and F.E.A.S.T.