Eating Disorders Coalition Spring Lobby Day 2012!

Do you know what the FREED Act is? It’s the Federal Response to the Elimination of Eating Disorders, and it’s a bill that we need YOUR help to pass.

For over a decade, the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) has been active on Capitol Hill working with the federal government to help make eating disorders a federal health priority. With the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder, we need a bill like the FREED Act to help those who suffer from eating disorders get the help they need and deserve.

I’ve been volunteering with the EDC for 5 years now, and am currently a Junior Board member. Sometimes people ask me if I really think lobbying is worth it because of how complicated and partisan politics can be. I’ll admit, it can be discouraging. But those in office really do pay attention and listen to people who take time out of their lives to come and discuss issues with them. There’s so much misinformation out there about eating disorders that we need people who have had real-world experience with them to come and educate lawmakers. Putting a face and a name to a real story goes a lot farther than any statistics, no matter how shocking or upsetting they might be.

Virginia Lobby Day with the National Eating Disorders Association

Just a quick post to let everyone know that the National Eating Disorders Association will be hosting it’s second state-level Lobby Day with the VA General Assembly on Wednesday, January 18. If you’re a Virginia resident, please consider attending.

Last year, we met with members of the General Assembly and were instrumental in educating them about the importance of a bill being introduced by Senator Puller to study eating disorder prevalence in VA. As a result of the advocacy and lobby work, the bill passed unanimously! You can read the follow-up with a link to the study results here.

Myself (2nd to left) with other advocates and Senator Puller in 2011.

There’s still work to do, though. Even if you can’t attend, you can write or call your state representatives and ask them to support NEDA’s work. We know for a fact that phone calls and emails were also influential in some representatives considering this cause. You can find the full press release here complete with contact info to RSVP. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s an opportunity to make a difference for everyone effected by eating disorders in Virginia.