Annapolis Valley Families Caring for Loved Ones with an Eating Disorder Support Group

Eva Musby: WORKSHOP: communication skills to support your child and be more effective
2021-08-13 11:00 - 2021-10-12 12:30 (America/Halifax)
Why this workshop?
Treatment for our children is tough, at a time when the eating disorder puts them in a highly distressed state. While previously, we parents did a perfectly fine job and had happy, loving children, suddenly we need to skill up.
Without new skills, our homes become war zones, or we’re constantly walking on eggshells. Parents ask, “What should I say when…?”
When we get better at connecting with our children, we reduce their distress, bring a vision of wellbeing, and make it easier for them to go through the challenges of treatment.
“I never won on the strength of my argument […], I won on the strength of our relationship”
(Psychologist Xavier Amador, talking about psychosis, but I think it’s just as applicable to eating disorders)
Content of the workshop
One and a half hour led by myself:

First, brief introductions to make you feel welcome and connected to everyone — feeling you’re with like-minded souls is a benefit of groups . However those of you who are Zoom-shy will be able to stay in the background throughout.
I focus on a few of the most effective tips for dialogue that nurtures connection and makes it more likely you will be effective.
I demonstrate them on some of your own situations (anyone willing to engage in a short role-play, that works well).
We address your questions, which usually are highly relevant to others
Then you can leave, or stay on for the following:

Another half hour follows for parent chat

You’re welcome to stay on in small groups for another half hour, so you can chat freely. Some parents really like the warmth and connection. If you need me during that time, you can call me into the room.

Youth Mental Health Training Course for Families
2021-08-13 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
To register, please complete this form: at Youth Mental Health Canada

Eating Disorders: Queer Perspectives on Recovery - EDNS
2021-04-23 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
A Virtual Panel Discussion

About this Event

Eating Disorders are a social justice issue.
Our society is cis-heteropatriarchal, ableist, racist, and classist — and, unfortunately, the landscape of eating disorder support and treatment reflect that. Although much more research is needed, emerging evidence shows that eating disorders disproportionately impact people who are marginalized and oppressed, including members of the queer community.
Join us for a virtual panel discussion where we will explore Queer perspectives on recovering from Eating Disorders and disordered eating. We’ll meet and hear from numerous folks who are part of the LGBTQ2S+ community who know what’s like to recovery from an Eating Disorder—some of them our very own trained Peer Mentors.
We will explore stories of both eating disorders and Queer lived experience, barriers to support and treatment, and how those barriers can be meaningfully addressed.
This event will be hosted on a Zoom Webinar where participants’ names or webcams will not be visible. This event will be recorded and shared on our YouTube account following the event.

About Our Moderator: Megan White RN
Megan (she/her) was born in Labrador but did her growing up in Nova Scotia. She has a passion for literacy, community activism, and mental health. Megan is a survivor of anorexia, and issues of disordered eating within the LGBTQ2S+ communities are of special interest as she is an out and proud queer woman.
Megan divides her time among research, school, and her day job as a registered nurse manager working in dementia care and palliation. After completing education at the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University, Megan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a specialty in international public health. Megan is pursing a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, and her academic interests include the role of storytelling and literacy in marginalized communities and the role of body image in literary narratives.
Megan lives in Dartmouth with her partner and her cat. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, riding her bike, listening to heavy metal, knitting, and browsing bookstores with coffee in hand.
Safe, Seen, and Supported: Navigating Eating Disorders Recovery in the LGBTQ+ Communities
Our Peer Mentor Panelists:

Abby (she/her)
Nikki (she/her)
Matthew (he/him)
Meg (she/her, they/them)

Available to those living in Canada
Live Closed Captioning will be provided during this session.
FREE Registration at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/eating-disorders-queer-perspectives-on-recovery-tickets-151537022313?fbclid=IwAR2RSl_uIi7Tegnfu_htnJ6qg2pxmOHE1mkmpKvwAGasgnr2UCTLjdOa3EM

WEBINAR RECORDING Autism&Eating Disorders AUST EDFA MEMBERS
2021-03-05 00:00 (America/Halifax)
A must-see webinar recording on autism in eating disorders, with:
Tony Attwood @drtonyattwood
Only viewable till 2 April, THEN IT’S GONE

Who should know this stuff?

a. obviously, parents of someone with ASD and ED
b. all ED therapists
c. ALL PARENTS WHO HELP OTHER PARENTS ON ED FORUMS

I was gripped for the whole 2.5 hours.
It brought home needs for:

Collaboration, problem-solving, flexibility from parents: How damaging forceful strategies may be.

We should not be telling other parents to be a 100% brick wall, to use punitive leverage (taking away mobile phone), to never allow anything to be left in the plate, to never allow one food to be swapped for another.

I know that any of the above principles have served some youngsters well. The issue is that 1/3 of the parents on a forum may have a kid on the autism spectrum, and they don’t yet know it, and for them, a more collaborative, flexible stance from parents may work better, while a hard-line stance may do harm.

Other take-home messages (but you need to see the whole webinar, honest!)

1. ED therapists need to be super-knowledgeable on autism as approx 1/3 of of ED patients
2. Issues with residential treatment if not adapted
2. Eclectic, individualised treatment, rather than by any one-size-fits-all manual
3. Importance of ‘psychological archeology’ – what led to this belief, this safety behaviour – so that we can change it (I was struck by this difference with FBT)
4. Side-effects of psychiatric meds more common with autism
5. Importance of parents and support for parents (nothing new there!)
6. If the recording shows the “Chat”, there are super-informative parents’ experiences in there.

Much of this converged with what I have been learning from parents that I support one-on-one. Clearly it also resonated big-time with parents on the webinar, judging from the super-emotional ‘chat’.

I am busy revising some of my own resources, in the light of all this. Not to lose the good stuff, but to make parents even more attuned to their child’s particular situation and needs.

Here’s the info from the @edfaustralia who created the webinar:
“Please note that this video recording is available for purchase from interested parties for the next 30 days via this link:
Non members: AUD $75 https://www.trybooking.com/BPHDV

But HOW do I eat? Practical Strategies from a Dietician
2021-02-18 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
This series, facilitated through Eating Disorders Nova Scotia, is on nutritional aspects of Eating Disorder recovery and will be led by Nicole Otto, Registered Dietitian. Join us as we explore a specific topic each week that builds on content from the previous week. We’ll cover mechanical eating, meal planning, myths and barriers to regular eating and nutrition 101. There will be ‘thought’ and brainstorming homework assigned each week to help supplement discussion and group participation the following week.
This 4-week series of workshops is only available to those living in Nova Scotia or Ontario (updated Feb 16th)
Sessions occur for all 4 Saturdays in March, 10-11:15am Atlantic Time:

March 6th
March 13th
March 20th
March 27th

Men's Mental Health Support Group
2021-02-08 20:00 (America/Halifax)
The
Canadian Mental Health Association – Nova Scotia
is seeking participants from the Hantsport-Middleton area for a Men’s Mental Health Support Group. Contact Education02@novascotia.cmha.ca to register.

Understanding Eating Disorders and Providing Support - Lunch and Learn
2021-02-01 12:00 - 13:15 (America/Toronto)
Lunch and Learn about Eating disorders and how to provide support to someone struggling with this illness. This event is facilitated by Ryerson University and Sheena’s Place: a community-based mental health charity that provides free group support services for individuals living with eating disorders and difficult relationships with their bodies and food. It is estimated that 2.7 million people in Canada meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder and many more experience symptoms, all of which can be detrimental to physical and mental well-being. Kaitlyn will debunk common myths about eating disorders and explore how these complex challenges are linked to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and body size. This presentation will also help social work students learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of disordered eating in individuals they work with, how to provide support to those who are affected, and where to refer folks to for additional support.
Presenter information: Kaitlyn Axelrod (she/her), MSW, RSW, Program & Outreach Coordinator at Sheena’s Place

Mental Health First Aid
2020-04-25 - 2020-04-26 | Ecole Rose des Vents, Greenwood, NS, 6 Bedford Road, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada
Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.
The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or colleague.
The program does not teach people how to be therapists. It does teach people how to:
Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems;
Provide initial help and guide a person towards professional help.

Mental Health First Aid Basic Training
2020-03-09 - 2020-03-10 | Future Inn 30 Fairfax Drive, Halifax, NS, 30 Fairfax Drive, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Registration Deadline – 3 March 2020 – 5 PM
Capacity – 25
Mental Health First Aid Basic Training is an evidence-based program of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. This course aims to improve mental health literacy and teaches participants how to recognize early warning signs that a friend, family member or colleague may be struggling with a mental health issue, as well as intervention strategies for mental health crisis situations. Practical skills are taught in a supportive group learning environment using a model that is easy to remember and apply in real-life settings.
Topics include the four most common mental illnesses: substance-related, mood, anxiety and trauma-related and psychotic disorders. Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with their family, friends, communities and workplaces.

This training meets best practice guidelines set forth in the CSA National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace, teaching participants invaluable skills to address mental health confidently, sensitively and effectively in their workplaces and beyond.

Just Be You - Wolfville - Acadia Mental Health Initiative
2020-03-06 18:00 - 2020-04-17 21:00 (America/Halifax) | Wolfville Recreational Centre, 7 Victoria Avenue, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Just Be You Wolfville program is a social-recreational program in Wolfville, NS. We serve youth ages 16-24 who are dealing with mental health challenges. The group focuses on supportive relationships, building coping skills through peer interactions, and is youth lead. It’s a place for you to just be youth!

It will run every Friday starting March 6th (there will be no meeting on March 20th) and will run for 6 weeks. The meetings are Friday’s from 6-9pm at 7 Victoria Avenue (the Wolfville rec centre).

Eating Disorders Nova Scotia Online Support Group - Working through Shame
2019-06-11 19:00 - 2019-06-18 20:15 (America/Halifax) | Online Peer Support Group
This Peer Support Series will be held Tuesday Nights. 11 and 18 June from 7:00 – 8:15 PM. Please go to the Eventbrite site to register.
What you get:

Specially selected resources including handouts, worksheets, and videos
Two online sessions with trained peer mentors
A supportive group encouraging accountability

World Eating Disorder Action Day
2019-06-02 | International Event
World Eating Disorders Action Day is a grassroots movement designed for and by people affected by an eating disorder, their families, and the medical and health professionals who support them. Uniting activists across the globe, the aim is to expand global awareness of eating disorders as genetically linked, treatable illnesses that can affect anyone. The Fourth Annual World Eating Disorders Action Day will take place on 2 June 2019 across the globe. This year our focus is “Eating Disorders Can’t Afford to Wait”!

Test Event 2
2018-12-29 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
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Test Event 1
2018-12-21 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
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Sashbear Family Connections Course
2025-11-04 18:00 (America/Halifax) | East Hants Family Resource Centre, 224 Hwy 214, Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, B2S1J4, Canada
The FC course is an evidence-based group that meets to provide education, skills training, and support for people who are in a relationship with someone who has emotion dysregulation or related problems.
Dr. Alan Fruzzetti and Dr. Perry Hoffman developed the course based on their research as well as their significant professional expertise in counseling people with emotion dysregulation or BPD and their loved ones.
Family Connections provides: current information and research on emotion dysregulation and on family functioning; individual coping skills based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); family skills; and group support that builds an ongoing network for family members.
Although the FC course was originally created to assist those families supporting loved ones with Borderline Personality disorder, it was quickly realized that it can help any adult supporting a loved one with Emotional Dysregulation.
Since many mental illnesses and conditions such as: Eating Disorders, Bi-polar, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, ADHD, Substance Abuse Disorders, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and others, all share elements of emotional dysregulation, the FC course provides skills so that a carer can de-escalate explosive situations caused by emotional dysregulation in the moment.
The course will be held over two weekends one month apart. The next course will run Sept/Oct 2019. Stay tuned for more information for date/time confirmation. Participants must attend all days of the course as it is based on a cumulative learning format.
Go to the Sashbear site to register: Sashbear Family Connection course
