#AnEDLooksLikeMe

Imagine experiencing a potentially life-threatening mental illness alone because you felt like you didnt qualify for help? Imagine if the barrier was the way you looked? Its hard to believe, but stereotypes about how eating disorders look are making life even harder for many of the people who have them. This is something we need your help to change.

More than one million people living in Australia, or four per cent of the population, are living with eating disorders right now. But 75% of them wont receive professional help. With the impact of COVID, this figure is believed to be even higher.

Mistaken beliefs and stigma can add shame and embarrassment, stopping people from seeking the support they urgently need. An ED Looks Like Me is tackling stereotypes, challenging the notion that eating disorders have an exclusive appearance, and raising much-needed funds to support all those affected.

What if the world understood that:

- Eating disorders can affect anyone, at any time

- They're not a choice, but a response to distress

- People struggling with eating disorders are not weak, simply seeking attention, or vain

- Eating disorders are serious and, left untreated, can be life threatening

- There are supports and resources to help

What if every person struggling with an eating disorder knew that:

- The stereotype of someone living with an eating disorder is just that a stereotype

- There's no need to feel shame or embarrassment - you're not alone

- It's OK to reach out - early intervention is best for full recovery

- There are supports and resources to help

Wouldn't that be great?

That's what Butterfly works towards every day. But there's still a way to go and we need YOU to get there. Help us to grow and maintain our critical support services, along with our education, advocacy and awareness initiatives.

DONATE Help Butterfly to support all people with eating disorders, including those we don't typically recognise as being at risk. The more funding we have, the more we can help. Please support Butterfly TODAY by making a DONATION.

How your donations make a difference

- $15 could provide art supplies for an eating disorder sufferer attending an online creative therapy program

- $50 could help run an online support group for sufferers and carers in under-serviced areas

- $100 could support more schools with the facilitation of our first digital body image program for males

- $500 could fund a Butterfly sessional presenter to educate and empower teachers, students and parents within schools on prevention and early identification

- $1,000 could enable Butterfly to train and educate rural or remote communities to deliver Butterfly's recovery and carer support programs online

- $1,000 could provide five online counselling sessions for a family of an eating disorder sufferer

- $2,000 could enable someone experiencing an eating disorder to attend a six-week online recovery program

- $5,000 could train health workers and doctors within a local community in the identification and treatment of people with eating disorders

FUNDRAISE Hold a #AnEDLooksLikeMe fundraising event at home, at a venue, in a park, at your school or even your workplace to raise awareness and funds to support Butterflys important services to help all people with body image issues or eating disorders.

Fundraising contact: elizabeth.herd@butterfly.org.au

SHOP MERCHANDISE Purchase a gift or resources from our SHOP, with the proceeds going towards supporting people with eating disorders and body image concerns.