Health and Community Services
February 8, 2011

Funding Announced for Provincial Eating Disorder Program  

Through a Provincial Government investment of $25,000, the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (EDFNL) will implement a new program aimed at educating school administrators, counsellors and support staff on eating disorders.

“This program will create a better understanding of how to access and use a variety of eating disorder treatments and family support programs now available in the province,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “Our government has made significant investments in this area and will continue to do so to raise awareness and help address the issues faced by individuals and families affected by eating disorders.”

The EDFNL will be provided $25,000 to expand its Let’s Talk Eating Disorders Program. This program, which includes the delivery of information sessions to educators across the province, will include an extensive information piece on eating disorders, early detection symptoms, available treatment programs, and family support options and services offered by the EDFNL.

Today’s funding announcement is one of several recent investments made by the Provincial Government to support eating disorder programs and services throughout the province. Other investments include: $804,500 to establish a provincial eating disorders program; $70,000 in one-time funding to support the Eating Disorder Interprofessional Community Capacity Building Project, which teaches professionals how to assess and treat clients with eating disorders; and, $50,000 in annual funding to the EDFNL.

Budget 2010: The Right Investments For Our Children and Our Future includes an investment of $7.2 million to strengthen mental health and addictions services in the province, including $2.4 million for continued planning and construction of a new residential treatment centre in St. John’s for children and youth with complex mental health needs; $2 million to further a new residential treatment centre in Grand Falls-Windsor for children and youth with addictions; $2 million for the planning and development of an adult residential addictions treatment centre in Harbour Grace; $482,900 to enhance child psychiatry services at the Janeway Hospital; and, $300,000 to support new community-based projects, with a focus on mental health and addictions issues.

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Media contacts:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 685-2646 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

2011 02 08                                                       12:05 p.m.