Page 12 - UHN Centre for Mental Health Impact Report 2023
P. 12

EATING DISORDERS




            Steering the Future                                                                                                 From Struggle to Support





            UHN Psychologist Appointed to Provincial Leadership Roles.                                                          NEDIC Beneficiary Responds with Legacy Gift.



            Dr. Kathryn Trottier, Clinical Lead, Eating          healthcare professionals with a clearer
            Disorders, is at the forefront of designing          understanding of what constitutes high
            and developing the future of care in her             quality eating disorders care.
            field.
                                                                 This new standard will provide the foun-
            In October 2022, she was appointed the               dation for the provincial program being
            Provincial Clinical Lead for Eating Disor-           developed by the Centre of Excellence,
            ders at Ontario Health’s Mental Health               and will ensure that care across the prov-
            and Addictions Centre of Excellence. The             ince is accessible, standardized, equita-
            Centre of Excellence is building a comp-             ble and based in the best evidence with
            rehensive and connected mental health                a measurement framework to facilitate
            and addictions system for people with                planning and performance monitoring.
            eating disorders in Ontario under the
            leadership of Dr. Trottier.                          Dr. Trottier’s appointments highlight the
                                                                 active and transformative role played by
            Prior to this appointment, she served as             the Centre for Mental Health in advancing
            the co-chair of Ontario Health’s Quality             eating disorder care in Ontario. As the
            Standards Advisory Committee, helping to             province’s largest program for adults with
            set the standard of care for eating                  eating disorders, the Centre is uniquely                       Each year, the National Eating Disorder Information Center
            disorders in Ontario. The new quality                positioned to lead the field in delivering                     (NEDIC) provides information, resources, referrals and in-the-
            standard, released in March 2023,                    high-quality care and driving quality                          moment support to thousands of people living in Canada who
            empowers patients, caregivers and                    improvement.                                                   are affected by eating disorders – and 35 years ago, it set Karen
                                                                                                                                Manion on her path to getting well.

                                                                                                Dr. Kathryn Trottier
                                                                                                                                In her mid-teens, Karen was healthy and active. Then she read an
                                                                                                                                article promoting weight control methods, and fell into a danger-
                                                                                                                                ous pattern of binging and purging. Thanks to a referral to NEDIC
                                                                                                                                from her Toronto doctor, Karen found help.


                                                                                                                                “NEDIC was the springboard that got me into the system,” she                  “I was so glad that
                                                                                                                                says. “In those days there was no internet, no easy way to find                         there was
                                                                                                                                help on your own.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       a resource

                                                                                                                                Karen has been very open about her recovery. She has spent her                         like NEDIC
                                                                                                                                life talking about her experience in order to destigmatize eat-                 with programs in
                                                                                                                                ing disorders and help others who find themselves in a similar                place to help me.”
                                                                                                                                situation.                                                                          – Ms. Karen Manion,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       NEDIC Supporter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        &  Legacy Donor
                                                                                                                                When she started thinking about leaving a gift in her will, NEDIC
                                                                                                                                was atop Karen’s list. She hopes with her gift to support others
     12                                                                                                                         struggling with eating disorders even after she’s gone.                                                13
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