Mobilizing communities to promote mental health through the delivery of peer support among those impacted by eating disorders

Eating Disorders Nova Scotia will leverage peer support as a means of mental health promotion for youth experiencing disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as their caregivers. Through a partnership with Body Brave, Eating Disorders Nova Scotia will expand their existing peer support programs nationally. Peer Support, information and resources will be available virtually to youth and families across Canada through Body Brave’s Recovery Support Program. Eating Disorders Nova Scotia will also partner with Silver Linings Foundation (AB) to expand capacity in their existing peer support programs. A robust evaluation will serve to demonstrate the efficacy of Peer Support for those with eating disorders. An implementation guide will be developed by Frayme to enable communities across Canada to create and implement their own Peer Support programs for those with eating disorders.

Lead organization: Eating Disorders Nova Scotia (EDNS)

Using peer support as an effective means of promoting mental health among those impacted by eating disorders

WHO
WHAT
HOW
WHERE
WHY

Youth experiencing disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as their caregivers

Objectives

To improve mental health among those impacted by eating disorders through peer support that provides:

Increased access to support
Decreased time waiting to receive support/care and begin recovery
Help in developing and practicing skills needed for recovery

Expanding capacity in existing programs by scaling up recruitment and training of youth and family/caregiver peer supporters
Evaluating the impact of expanded peer support programming
Developing an implementation guide to tailor peer support programs in communities across Canada

Settings

Online

Implementation sites

National

The pandemic created a dramatic increase in the number of youth suffering from eating disorders and requiring hospitalization
There was a surge in demand for eating disorder resources and support; peer support for caregivers was identified as a gap
Eating Disorders Nova Scotia is unique in its delivery of free (virtual) peer support accessible across Canada

In the words of the project team members

“Anyone who’s experiencing disordered eating, or any eating disorder, will be able to access peer support, either one-on-one or through a group program, as well as self-managed, self-paced resources for recovery.”