Summary: Eating disorder recovery is often treated through programs teaching individuals how to balance what they consume, learning to accept their body image, and how to prevent relapse. This proposed program aims to promote healing for the individual and their loved ones not by focusing on the eating disorder, but by providing coping skills for overall healing from trauma that may have triggered or come from the eating disorder. By teaching mindfulness through yoga, hosting support groups to share experiences and learn from others, and hosting seminars to encourage relationship building with family, this program aims to take a trauma-informed approach to allow participants to become more mindful and take care of their overall health. Well-being in the mind and in their relationships is the main goal for any participants, as well as creating a community that can support each other even after experiences with eating disorders.
Public Health Framework: This proposed program intends to use trauma-preventive, trauma-informed, and trauma-specific ideals to create support for those with an eating disorder and those close to them. While this program is not specifically designed to prevent eating disorders, by supporting participants and providing healthy coping skills through mindfulness and support groups, ideally this program will also promote healing and wellness within the community rather than just treating the eating disorder or preventing relapse or development in family members (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadephia, n.d.).
The more likely prevention produced by this program will be secondary and tertiary, depending on each individual and their families that seek support (Simons-Morton et al., 2012). If an individual has recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder, this program can act as a secondary prevention through support groups and teaching coping skills like mindfulness as a way to treat the eating disorder. If an individual seeks support after a longer period of having an eating disorder, or after they have “recovered”, tertiary prevention can come in to play by supporting the individual and their loved ones with the different support groups and activities provided.
Trauma-Informed Principles: The first key principle that will be utilized in this program, as outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014) is peer support. Since an important part of this program is providing support groups for those with an eating disorder and their close loved ones, creating a supportive network is key by allowing participants to get to know each other and learn more from others in the community that may share similar experiences.
The second key principle that will be emphasized by this program is empowerment, voice, and choice. Through this principle, the project activities and goals will continuously be shaped by the participants in the program, based on their experiences and observations in the program, to improve and build the program going forward (SAMHSA, 2014). The more participants we have that give feedback on the program, the more resourceful our program can be for future participants. The key to success of this program is for participants to eventually leave with the skills, knowledge, and values that will allow them to handle stress from trauma, build healthy relationships, and better understand their eating disorders. Building resilience throughout the community through this program is key, as we do not want participants needing indefinite long-term support from the program, as that would be a sign the program is unsuccessful.
Levels of the Social-Ecological Model: The interpersonal level of the social-ecological model will be an important part of this program as not only will individuals develop skills to help themselves, but to also develop relationship skills with peers with similar experiences, as well as friends and family (McLeroy et al., 1988). Since the program will offer mindfulness courses and support groups for those close to someone with an eating disorder, other people can also work on relationship building skills and gaining knowledge about different types of trauma related to eating disorders. This will open up the possibilities for the entire community to improve and learn, rather than just the individuals who have experienced the trauma.
References:
McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health education quarterly, 15(4), 351–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818801500401
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia. (n.d.) Trauma-Informed Philanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley. https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www....mgr/pn_miscdocs/Trau maGUIDE_FinalWeb.pdf
Simons-Morton, B. G., McLeroy, K. R., & Wendel, M. L. (2012). Behavior theory in health promotion practice and Research. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://ufl.instructure.com/co...8107/download?wrap=1
Comments (0)