Discussing an Eating Disorder: Tips for a Successful Dialogue
Here’s a scary and rarely discussed stat: eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and suicide rates are 23 percent higher in those with eating disorders than in the general population.
In addition, for those with eating disorders, rates of death are elevated compared to those suffering from other mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Because this topic is so important — and alarmingly, on the rise — we reached out to Jamie Manwaring, primary therapist at Eating Recovery Center in Denver, for her tips on how to talk to a loved one who’s suffering from an eating disorder.