In the upcoming NSW health budget, we propose that funds be allocated to heightening the awareness of the prevalence and dangers of eating disorders. We also propose that, continuing on from last year's record government investments in mental health facilities, funds are increased in public units with specific eating disorder treatment programmes. The specific units are:

-Westmead Hospital Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Programme and Outpatient Eating Disorder Clinic

-Westmead Hospital Adolescent Unit

-Royal Prince Alfred Outpatient, Inpatient and Day Patient Programmes

-Illawarra Eating Disorder Early Intervention and Outpatient Services

-Lismore and District Women’s Health Centre

-Eating Disorder service at the Newcastle Centre for Psychotherapy

-Shoalhaven Body Image and Eating Behaviour Service

-Tamworth Base Nutrition and Dietetics Department.

To provide some background, statistics in Australia have shown that the mortality rate for sufferers of anorexia nervosa is 15-20%, these figures include the proportion of patients who suicide. The suicide rate for anorexia nervosa is 38 times higher than average. Our focus is not just on the shocking figures for anorexia mortality though, current research is indicating that a tenth of bulimia nervosa cases are going undetected, an alarming figure as the short and long term effects of the illness have the potential to cause infertility, arrhythmia, osteoporosis and ultimately death. The prevalence of binge eating disorder and Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) both currently sit at 4%, however suicide figures for sufferers of these illnesses are consistently on the rise.

Currently public awareness of the dangers associated with eating disorders has a long way to go, especially considering the alarming increase rate which has spiked over the past 10 years. Though the cause and treatment of eating disorders is believed to be a combination of nature and nurture, the Magnolia Fund is aiming to increase awareness whilst improving specialist eating disorder facilities. We believe that this petition will assist in setting the grassroots foundations for the future of eating disorder awareness and treatment in New South Wales.

We aim to get a minimum of 100 signatures by Monday, May 14, 2012.