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In 2000, after recovering from a long battle with eating disorders, Johanna Kandel founded the National Alliance for Eating Disorders as a way to give back and make a difference. Since then, The Alliance has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, eliminate stigma, and promote access to care, as well as support those vulnerable to, currently experiencing, and recovering from eating disorders.
Since its foundation in 2000, The Alliance has been dedicated to boosting awareness of eating disorders and providing support for all those in need. They do this through primary services:
The Alliance provides a free, therapist-staffed referral helpline, open Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm EST. The aim is to operate the helpline 7 days a week until 9:00 pm EST.
As well as the helpline, The Alliance also runs the website findEDhelp.com, which contains the largest, most-inclusive national database of eating disorders and providers. The Alliance believes that money shouldn’t be a barrier to treatment, so the website is free for providers and consumers to join.
The website caters to all levels of treatment, is regularly updated, and has no advertisements. Find ED Help is also available as an Android and iOS app for use on the go.
In 2022, people of all ages reached out to the helpline and the website, either looking for support for themselves or for help for a loved one. While the biggest group seeking help was aged between 18 and 30 (40%), over 10% of those reaching out were over 50, and over 30% were younger than 17. This serves to demonstrate that eating disorders don’t discriminate. Check out some other statistics gathered by The Alliance:
The Alliance currently runs 7 weekly and 2 monthly virtual support groups and 9 in-person support groups nationwide. All support groups are easy to join, free of charge, and are led by licensed clinicians, such as psychologists, therapists, and dietitians experienced in eating disorders.
All support groups have unlimited attendance and are available to anyone over the age of 18 experiencing or recovering from an eating disorder. There are also support groups to support the loved ones of those living with an eating disorder.
A pre-publication study by Matthew Murry et al. demonstrates the significant impact The Alliance’s support groups have on its members. The study shows:
Education is a key component of The Alliance’s mission to eliminate the shame and stigma that surrounds eating disorders. Furthermore, it’s estimated that 29 million Americans will experience an eating disorder at some point, and early intervention leads to better long-term outcomes. To recognize when an intervention is needed or how to best approach someone who may require help, a basic understanding of eating disorders is needed.
The Alliance has a considerable amount of educational resources on its website, and it also offers an extensive array of educational outreach programs on all eating disorders to healthcare professionals and facilities, social service agencies, community organizations, and schools.
In 2022, The Alliance had a significant national and global impact, operating in all 50 states and 88 countries worldwide.
How can working with The Alliance impact you as a clinician? The Alliance does a lot of the extra work so clinicians, whether working at a treatment center or in private practice, can do their jobs effectively and show up for their clients in their fullest capacity. The table below shows how The Alliance can aid you as a clinician.
Connecting clients to The Alliance can help support your client’s recovery in a variety of ways, including:
So, if you are an eating disorder clinician, consider connecting with The Alliance today by: