National Eating Disorders Week "Someday Melissa" Screening: Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, 2/25 from 6 - 9pm, the Ohio Psychological Association, in conjunction with Columbus State Community College, hosted a screening of the documentary "Someday Melissa." The documentary is the story of Melissa Avrin, who lost her life to an eating disorder. Following her death, Judy Avrin, Melissa’s mother, formed Someday Melissa – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that was established to promote awareness of the dangers of eating disorders. The documentary is the story of an eating disorder, loss and hope. It’s the organization's desire that through the film, speaking engagements, this website, and educational materials, they will provide a beacon of hope to those suffering with their own disorder (www.somedaymelissa.org).

Over 40 students, faculty, and community members attended this event, which included an expert panel consisting of mental health professionals and survivors of eating disorders. Dr. Heather Guthrie represented the Ohio Psychological Association on the panel. Other panelists included Michael Hicks, M.S.Ed., LPC from the CSCC Counseling Center, Samantha Tortora, M.A., LPC-CR from the Center for Balanced Living, Sarah Blanda, and Courtney Ruppert, M.A.


Although National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is over, there will always be a need to spread awareness of Eating Disorders. NEDA has a great plethora of resources that you can utilize to spread awareness at this website: http://nedawareness.org/. Here is the direct link to posters and other resources: http://nedawareness.org/get-involved/materials

NEDA Walk: Columbus, OH

"Walk About It" on The Ohio State University's campus, and support volunteers in raising awareness about eating disorders in a fun, interactive way! Register today and do your part to help NEDA gain a stronger foothold in the fight against eating disorders!

Columbus NEDA Walk
May 14, 2011
The Ohio State University
Fred Beekman Park
Registration at 10:00am; Walk at 11

If you cannot make the walk, please consider making a donation! Even $10 in support of NEDA's 10th Anniversary helps us get one step closer to "a world free from eating disorders!"

Students Hosting Fashion Show This Saturday

Columbus Academy's eighth annual Fashion Show and Silent Auction, a student-run event that raises funds for the National Eating Disorders Association, will be held this Saturday, March 5, from 7-10 p.m. at the Franklin Park Conservatory. You can reserve seats by purchasing tickets for
$25 by March 4. Tickets at the door do not guarantee seats. VIP packages for$75 per ticket include front row seats and an event t-shirt.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week -- Feb 22-28

The aim of NEDAwareness Week is to ultimately prevent eating disorders and body image issues while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses — not choices — and it’s important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder.

For more information, visit the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week site or the Ohio Psychological Association site for more information.

National Healthy Weight Week

January 18-24 is National Healthy Weight Week. Many people make a New Year's resolution to lose weight, exercise more, and get in shape, but these resolutions do not always last. The goal of National Health Weight Week is to celebrate healthy diet-free living habits that last a lifetime and prevent eating and weight problems.

For more information on how to help make your New Year's resolution, or your every-day resolution to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle stick, please read this article.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Did you know...
* At least 10 million females and 1 million males in the U.S. are battling anorexia and bulimia, while another millions more suffer from binge eating disorder.

* Eating disorders are a silent epidemic with devastating and life-threatening consequences. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

* Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, including young children, middle-aged women and men,and individuals of all races and ethnicity.

* Treatment does work! A team approach with focus on both the body and mind can help people overcome the symptoms and develop a positive body image and live a healthy life.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 24 through March 1, 2008. This week we encourage you to visit the OPA EDAW site (http://www.ohpsych.org/Public/EDAW.htm) for more information.

The OPA Public Interest Committee also ask you to consider donating a pair of jeans to a local charity in the spirit of The Great Jeans Giveaway. The theme of EDAW is "Be Comfortable in Your Genes. Wear Jeans that fit the REAL You!" Please visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org and click on NEDAW for more information about the giveaway.

If you have questions or would like more information, please marylewis@earthlink.net.