By EMMA SUN
A NEW program targeting eating disorders in young people will be the first of its kind in the outer east, according to Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local CEO Kristin Michaels.
The Positive Eating and Changing Habits (PEACH) program was launched last Thursday, and will feature individual and group therapy sessions for people aged 18 to 25.
It will be delivered in partnership with headspace Knox and Knox Community Health Service.
The program was officially launched by Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Senator Jacinta Collins who said that up to 40,000 people in the area would suffer from an eating disorder in their lives.
Ms Michaels said it was an important step towards filling the gap in treatment options for eating disorders.
“There are no community based services in Melbourne’s outer east, the only options are hospital based programs and you have to be really, really sick to get in,” she said.
“The nearest residential service that is not a hospital is in Lara so there’s really just been nothing, which is an enormous concern particularly in Yarra Ranges, which has such limited access generally – it’s a real problem.
“This program will keep people on the recovering journey and they’ve got a better chance to recover quickly.”
Ms Michaels said the free program would allow sufferers to have access to GPs, a mental health nurse and a dietician.
