Celebrated annually during the last week of February, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week aims to educate and promote awareness around eating disorders and provide resources and support to individuals and their families.
Eating disorder facts:
- According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are five different types of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder (B.E.D.), Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (A.R.F.I.D.), and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (O.S.F.E.D.).
- 28.8 million Americans experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
- Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders, surpassed only by opioid use disorder.
- Eating disorders commonly co-occur with other mental health issues like anxiety, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia.
Source: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Eating disorder treatment programs available:
| Be Collaborative Care, Inc. | (401) 262-0841 becollaborativecare.com | Offers outpatient individual/group and family therapy and nutritional support services for children, adolescents, and adults. An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is also available to individuals ages 18+ who may need more support than a weekly outpatient appointment. |
| Equip | 1-855-387-4378 equip.health | Delivers virtual outpatient care to commercial members ages 6-24 with an eating disorder diagnosis. Treatment is based on a cohesive team-based approach that is family-focused, goal-oriented, and evidence-based. Equip will screen for medical instability, acute suicidality, and psychosis, and provide a referral to a higher level of care if needed. |
BCBSRI Behavioral Health Case Management Eating Disorder Outreach Program Highlight
Goal: To connect members who are newly diagnosed with an eating disorder to resources for behavioral health and social determinants of health. Connecting these members to ongoing care, resources, and support can result in a decrease in both inpatient admissions and overall costs of care.
The BCBSRI Behavioral Health Case Management program is staffed by experienced mental health and substance use professionals who can provide education and support, assist with coordination of care, and help to close gaps related to social determinants of health.
Behavioral Health Case Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To refer a patient to the BCBSRI BH Case Management Program, please call 1-800-274-2958 or email triage_group@bcbsri.org.
You may also use our automated referral form at BCBSRI.com by following these steps:
1. Log on to the provider portal of BCBSRI.com.
2. Click on Tools and Resources.
3. Click on Forms.
4. Click on Case Management Request.
5. Complete the required fields and click Go!
For additional information, please contact Monica Ross at monica.ross@bcbsri.org.