I'm a youth

There are resources available to help. 

• Share a resource
  • A Parents’ and Caregivers’ Guide to Supporting Youth with Eating Disorders (PDF booklet)
  • I’m Worried That My Child Has an Eating Disorder: A Guide to Discussing Your Concerns with Their Primary Care Provider  (PDF checklist)
• Get tips on how to tell someone I'm struggling

Publicly-funded treatment

Publicly-funded care includes intensive treatment, like inpatient or day patient programs. If you are worried about your health and think you might need that kind of care, you will need a referral from your doctor. 

• Patient checklist:  take this resource to a doctor's appointment to help make sure your questions are answered and to help figure out next steps, like getting tests done to see whether that shows any health concerns.
• Guide for primary care providers: you can bring this with you if you want to help your doctor understand what you are going through.
• Learn more about types of treatment, like day treatment, outpatient, inpatient, or residential.

Private treatment

Some providers work in the private sector, so they charge a fee. If you have insurance, it may cover some or all of the fee.  You don't usually need a referral to see this type of provider. 

For example, a counsellor or therapist would address any concerns in relation to mental health and emotions, and a dietitian would work with you to develop a nutrition plan for ensuring that your nourishment needs are met and relearning how to tune into your body's cues and eat in a flexible way.

• Learn more about different kinds of providers, like therapists or dietitians.
• Learn more about types of therapy, like family-based treatment or cognitive behavioural therapy.
• Tips for choosing a service provider

Low-barrier support options

Canada has many groups offering free and low-cost community-based supports to people who are affected by eating disorders. There are support groups for people affected by eating disorders and/or disordered eating, and for family, friends, and loved ones. Some are available online. Many services are non-clinical in nature (i.e. not treatment) and free of cost or publicly-funded. These community-based supports can usually be accessed without a diagnosis or referral.

Find a community group that is local to your or available online.

Find a service provider

You can use NEDIC's service provider directory to find providers in your area. You can filter to find specific types of providers or types of care.