Eating Disorders: Connection and Community

This internal and external isolation often causes people to disconnect from the relationships, social activities, and inner self that truly sustain them.Recovery is supported by community, connection, and innovative clinical care. This episode explores how clinical services and community organisations work together to support people and families who are transitioning out of the eating disorder's black-and-white control.Host Elaine McDonald is joined by two experts marking three decades of crucial service in Ireland's eating disorder landscape. Jane O’Riordan is an Occupational Therapist at the Eating Disorders Programme at St John of God University Hospital. Harriet Parsons is the CEO of Bodywhys, Ireland’s National Eating Disorder Association.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTOccupational therapy supports life functioning.Eating disorders develop as coping mechanisms.Loneliness and isolation compound struggle.Groups provide hope and universality.Continuity of connection supports transition.GUEST DETAILSJane O'Riordan is an Occupational Therapist on the Eating Disorders Programme at St John of God University Hospital. With nearly two decades of experience across adult and adolescent mental health, she specialises in activity-led approaches, including meal preparation and therapeutic practices. Her expertise focuses on the mind-body connection in recovery and the intersection of neurodiversity and eating disorders.Harriet Parsons is the CEO of Bodywhys, Ireland's National Eating Disorder Association. A fully accredited psychotherapist who has been with the organisation for almost 20 years, she led the development of crucial support services, including family programmes. She also played a key role in delivering the community support component of the HSE's National Clinical Programme for Eating DisordersMORE INFORMATIONTo find out more about the work of the St John of God University Hospital visit stjohnofgodhospital.ieQUOTESHaving an eating disorder is really exhausting and really time consuming, so it's very difficult to be present or have energy for doing things or people's self esteem and body image are affected. - Jane O'RiordanEating disorders develop as a way of coping with difficult experiences or a difficult kind of internal world. So we want to try and support people to develop other skills and outlets for that. - Jane O'RiordanThe eating disorder is a way of coping, and because it's a way of coping, they're very counter intuitive illnesses. - Harriet ParsonsIt takes great courage to kind of reach out and make that first connection with somebody who's focused on how this person might be able to live their life without the eating disorder. - Harriet ParsonsKEYWORDS: #EatingDisorders #MentalHealthRecovery #GroupSupport #StigmaShift #Bodywhys