To the Honourable Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:

The petition of the undersigned, Vancouver Island Voices for Eating Disorders of Vancouver Island, B.C., states our request that the Honourable House take urgent action to support adults struggling with eating disorders in our community, who are facing devastating service cuts.

In January 2022, the South Island Eating Disorder Program (SI EDP) in Victoria, B.C. will no longer be accepting referrals for adult clients and services will be further limited for those patients currently on the clinic's caseload. Services will only be provided to current patients as long as they're involved with provincial services through Providence healthcare (St. Paul's inpatient program and the Discovery/Vista residence in Vancouver, B.C.)

The Eating Disorders Program has been gradually limiting access to individualized services over the past few years, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Island program is experiencing a dramatic jump in demand for services with no ability to provide it. The program is severely under-funded, under-staffed, and their resources are stretched beyond capacity. As a result, what little resources exist have been prioritized for youth and adult patients are now being turned away.

Because adult outpatient services for eating disorders are provided through the Ministry of Child Development in the South Island region, the adult population will never be a priority. Youth and adults have different needs and capacities, but adults are not less capable of change or less deserving of support. These individuals are valuable members of our community, and they deserve support that allows them to participate in society.

Community-based/outpatient treatment has been proven to lead to improved health outcomes and cut long-term healthcare and social assistance costs. Allowing individuals to find the support they need in their own community is critical to sustain recovery and prevent treatment-cycling.

Without accessible community-based support, patients' only option is to seek support through the adult tertiary program at St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver, B.C. A program which itself, has very limited resources to support an entire province of patients.

Eating disorders affect people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, genders, socioeconomic statuses, backgrounds, and frequently accompany other co-morbid mental illnesses. Given that eating disorders can lead to significant disability, have the highest death rate of any mental illness outside of the opioid crisis, and are the third most common mental illness in Canada, your willingness to act is a vital step towards change.

Your petitioners respectfully request that the Honourable House: 

1. Move adult outpatient eating disorder funding and services in the South Island region from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Child and Family Development to the Ministry of Health (which would be delivered through Island Health, with oversight from the MoH and those with living/lived experience, regarding where and how these services are delivered.) We would specifically like to see these services offered through programs such as Island Community Mental Health.

2. Expand eating disorder services for adults in the South Island region to provide current evidence-based treatment options and stepped-levels of care (e.g. implementation of a program including day treatment, outreach, harm reduction options, intensive outpatient, and wrap around social and health services that are informed by new research, beyond just FBT, CBT, and intuitive eating.)

3. Include individuals with living and lived experience in decision-making processes regarding the transfer and expansion of adult eating disorder services through Island Health.

4. Restore the 2 designated acute care psychiatric beds (located in the Victoria, B.C.) for adults struggling with eating disorders across Vancouver Island.

5. Easing of requirements (especially having to go through PATSEDP to receive funding) for individuals to access out-of-province and country treatment options.

Other ways to take action include:

• Increasing education and training for healthcare professionals that focuses on eating disorders, weight stigma, cultural competence, harm reduction practices for eating disorders, and trauma-informed care.
• Investment in research for eating disorders to ensure treatment and support options are evidence-based and effective.