Dec
6
Announcing new programme
Filed Under EDF News |
In 2007 the Eating Disorders Foundation has commenced an exciting new venture. We have employed two new part time staff members Sarah McMahon a psychologist and Paula Kotowicz a counsellor, to run a rural liaison programme aimed at minimising relapse of illness when rural patients are discharged from their inpatient eating disorder units in hospitals in Sydney. In the past, these country patients who are suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia have found that there is inadequate or no support in their local areas so their illness all too frequently relapses, sometimes with critical consequences. Sarah and Paula, working with The Children’s Hospital Westmead and Westmead Adolescent Unit, and Northside hospitals respectively, are piloting programs to assist these patients transitioning back to their rural community.
The Eating Disorders Foundation would like to thank Sportsgirl who have given us a grant through The Butterfly Foundation to fund Sarah’s position part time, and to the Trust Company of Australia for funding Paula’s position. We are hoping that we can develop this program into full time positions in order to provide country patients with an appropriate and meaningful level of support. Contact begins when patients are first admitted to the Sydney hospitals, relationships are then forged throughout the admission, which enables Sarah and Paula to play a critical and valuable role in the weeks following discharge.
Posted by Greta Kretchmer on 6 December 2007
Tags: rural, sportsgirl, Westmead
Comments
1 Comment so far
I think this new programme is a fantastic step.
Congratulations.
I was sent home from hospital in Sydney 14 years ago after treatment for a 7 year long battle with bulimia .
As a country girl from the small town of Cootamundra I found it very difficult to get follow up help .
Essentially no-one wanted to know me as they felt unequipped to help me.
The dietitian flat out refused to see me.
A counsellor reluctantly agreed to see me .
I saw her three times travelling an hour to see her .
I had stopped vomiting so she felt I was cured.
I relapsed of course and was ready to go back to Sydney but this meant waiting .
I thought I would be dead before I got to Sydney.
Fortunately after speaking to the dietitian that I had seen whilst in hospital something changed in me and I have been bulimia free since .
However I believe the emotional scars that were never treated have made my life difficult at times .
I suffered PND after my second and third child and another episode of depression after my younger brother committed suicide 18 months ago at age 23.
I am 36 years and have since sort long awaited treatment for my emotional well-being.
This new programme means many won’t have to walk my long way to recovery .
The nightmare that is bulimia is bad enough without carrying it’s baggage for any longer than necessary
Well Done
All the best Sarah and Paula
If I can assist in anyway I would be happy to.
I am a Registered Nurse
Tania