Media Release
June 11 2021
Eating Disorders Victoria receives $500k funding boost
Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV) is pleased to be included in the Victorian Government’s recent $9.57 million mental health funding announcement.
The funding, announced by the Minister for Mental Health and Acting Premier James Merlino, is being distributed to a range of mental health services to help meet growing demand.
The funding boost comes at a crucial time for EDV. In May, our information and support service, the EDV Hub, experienced a 300% increase in contacts compared to our pre-COVID average monthly calls.
“Clearly COVID precipitated new onset eating disorders, as well as triggered relapses. The flow on of this is currently escalating, not subsiding. Our system is creaking under the demand and many people are struggling to get into the services they need,” said EDV CEO Belinda Caldwell.
Since July 2020, EDV has been responding to the increase in demand by adapting programs to online formats, and broadening our scope of community service offerings with the support of the Victorian Government. In the past 12 months, services have grown to include highly popular Online Support Groups, Telehealth Counselling, Carer Coaching for families with newly diagnosed adolescents, and a soon to be available program for those with severe and enduring eating disorders.
EDV CEO Belinda Caldwell said that this new funding will bolster current service offerings to help meet demand, but acknowledges that this is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
“We’ve been pivoting and growing at record pace over the past year, but more is needed to support the growing number of Victorians affected by eating disorders. This funding will relieve the pressure on some of our most in-demand services, but we know far too many Victorians are facing structural barriers to accessing the support they need. We look forward to working with the Victorian Government and our sector colleagues on the broader reforms to the mental health care system that are taking place currently and in the coming years.”