Empowering Families: Developing Self-Help Groups for Relatives of Young People with Eating Disorders

Identified need
Family members of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) are often under immense emotional and psychological strain. They frequently lack sufficient support systems, leading to increased stress and reduced well-being. This disparity in mental health and access to resources for family members is a critical concern that demands targeted intervention. Present project aims to address this need by creating self-help groups tailored specifically to family members of individuals with EDs, offering them the opportunity to gain emotional support, share experiences, and learn coping strategies.
Design
The initiative employs a participatory design model, engaging family members in the development of the self-help group framework. Through workshops, feedback sessions, and surveys, family members will directly contribute to shaping the structure and content of the groups. The groups will be divided into three main categories: (1) parents or primary family members, (2) siblings, and (3) friends or extended family. The design will emphasize peer support, skill-building, and knowledge sharing to help family members manage stress and enhance their mental health.
Implementation
The self-help groups will be led by trained volunteers from a municipal voluntary organization with support from mental health and eating disorder experts. Recruitment of participants will be done through local health centers, treatment providers, and online platforms. The groups will meet regularly to provide family members with a space for emotional support, practical guidance, and shared learning. Feedback from participants will be collected throughout the project to ensure the groups are meeting their needs and to make ongoing health improvements.
Results/lessons learned
The project aims to measure changes in family members’ stress levels, mental health, and feelings of social isolation before and after participation in the groups. Initial success will be defined by family members’ improved coping strategies, greater emotional resilience, and an increased sense of community and support. The lessons learned from this process will be crucial for refining the initiative and informing future policy changes related to family member support for individuals with EDs.
This initiative provides an innovative approach to addressing the gaps in family member support for individuals with eating disorders. By fostering peer support and emotional resilience, the project will help reduce family members’ stress, enhance well-being, and improve the overall quality of care provided to individuals with EDs. The project highlights the importance of community-driven, participatory models in improving health outcomes for marginalized groups and informs future interventions in similar contexts.