How to Start a Support Group of Campus for Eating Disorder Recovery

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
For the student in recovery from an eating disorder, college can present with unique challenges and obstacles.  The process of recovery is something that is ongoing and requires consistent amount of support throughout the journey.   Regardless of where you may be in the recovery process, having adequate support during your college years will be a necessary part of maintaining your efforts for the long term.

While many college campuses have helpful resources for students who may be in recovery, including counseling opportunities and support groups, many campuses may be in the infancy stage when it comes to developing adequate resources.  Thankfully, with the greater awareness of eating disorders, many college campuses have become more conducive to the student in eating disorder recovery, but there are still many campuses who may be lacking in this area.

Where there are gaps, you can become part of the solution for finding answers and creating resources for eating disorder sufferers and for those in recovery.  If your campus does not have any resources available through the wellness center or is perhaps lacking a support group options for students in recovery, consider bringing this to the attention of an administrator or faculty member in a higher level of authority.  You may begin by working with the campus wellness center and highlighting the need for eating disorder resources on college campuses.

If the option exists, you may even be able to start your own support group on your college campus, or create a safe place for other students to come to find healing, hope and encouragement.  Because there are possibly many logistics involved with this, be sure to discuss this option with appropriate staff on campus, including the director of the wellness center, head of student activities, etc.  Even through showing an interest in constructing such a group can be enough to ignite a trigger that leads to the creation of resources for college students.  Be proactive in your recovery and in finding the appropriate resources you need to sustain your efforts.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

Have you ever started a support group on campus for eating disorder recovery?  If so, how did you start this group, and what resources were helpful to you in making this group successful?

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders.  These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.  We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors.  If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on August 28, 2015. Published on EatingDisorderHope.com