Eating disorders are a matter of life and death. They can and do kill. Let’s not forget that. But they are also, for many, a matter of life and half life. The people who sustain themselves just enough to live a half life. A life that is greyed by the constant inner battles around food, exercise, and eating.
Dear Readers,
Please find below a brilliant webinar by Castlewood Eating Disorder Centre. Please do sign up. We hope to see you there.
October 19, 2017 from Thu, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM BST
“Matters of Life and Death Decisions: Assessing and Treating Suicide in Eating Disorders”
Presented by Nicole Siegfried, Ph.D, CEDS- National Director of Eating Disorder Program Development
Presented by Nicole Siegfried, Ph.D, CEDS- National Director of Eating Disorder Program Development Research has demonstrated high suicide rates in eating disorders. In fact, some studies have indicated that the high mortality rate in anorexia is more a function of suicidality than of a compromised medical status (Crisp, 2006).
Individuals with eating disorders may be at particular risk for suicide based on their unique experience of the combination of perceived burdensomeness, isolation, and capacity to engage in a lethal act (Joiner, 2005).
Despite the high prevalence of suicide in eating disorders, suicidality is under-researched in this population, and consequently, not well understood. The majority of practitioners have had less than two hours of training in suicide, and fifty percent fail to ask about and adequately assess suicidal ideation (Foster & McAdams, 1993; Peterson, Luoma, & Dunne, 2002). Because suicidality is so common in eating disorders, eating disorder professionals need to be better equipped than the general therapist in treating these symptoms and related behaviors (e.g., self-harm). This didactic/experiential presentation will provide attendees with a toolbox of interventions for use with clients with eating disorders and suicidality. The workshop will include a journey into the suicidal mind as it pertains to clients with eating disorders (Shneidman, 1998). Instruction on suicide risk assessment and suicidal crisis intervention, including documentation guidelines, will be covered. Additionally, evidence-based and practical interventions found to be effective in working with suicidality will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives
• Participants will be able to identify the relationship between eating disorders and suicide
• Participants will be able to describe an etiological model of suicide in eating disorders
• Participants will be able to implement assessments and interventions for suicide in eating disorder clients
