Walden Announces Eating Disorder Prevention Program For Schools

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 8, 2013 – Walden Behavioral Care, LLC, one of the country’s leading hospitals for treating eating disorders, today announced the introduction of the School-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program for public and private middle schools and high schools.  The program is one of the first programs of its kind.

Walden’s School-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program, which will be offered to schools throughout New England, includes three seminars for students, one for teachers and administrators, and one for parents and guardians.

The program will be taught by Stephanie Haines, a senior prevention specialist hired by Walden to manage the program.  She has taught substance abuse education classes to thousands of students at hundreds of schools across five continents.

Topics to be covered include, “The Eating Disorder Issues Continuum,” “Eating Disorders – Who, What, Why and How,” Risk Factors and Protective Factors: Finding Your Strength,” “What Adults Can Do” and “What Parents Can Do.”

The program is designed to allow flexible scheduling with Walden’s expert educators and consultants; schools may choose half-day, full-day or multiple-day programs.  Schools may, for example, incorporate student seminars into existing health classes and assemblies, teacher lessons into faculty meetings or training sessions, and caregiver lessons into parent-teacher meetings.

“The most effective way to reduce the epidemic of eating disorders is to prevent them from happening in the first place,” said President and CEO Stuart Koman, Ph.D.  “Eating disorders are life-threatening illnesses that are complex and difficult to treat.  If we can educate young people and others in the community about the dangers, we may be able to prevent eating disorders from occurring in some cases and help save lives.”

While several other eating disorder treatment centers offer training to medical professionals, Walden believes that outreach to schools, educators and parents will create the best possible opportunity to reach teens, who are most susceptible to developing eating disorders.

“Each year, thousands of adolescents and teens, both male and female, develop eating disorders or problems with eating, weight or body image,” Koman said.  “Walden’s School-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program will increase awareness and help reduce student risk for developing eating disorders.”

Koman said many teens, parents and teachers are unaware of how prevalent and how dangerous eating disorders can be.  Anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder can cause medical conditions ranging from osteoporosis to heart disease.  Over half of teenaged girls and nearly one third of teenaged boys behave in ways that are unhealthy when they try to manage their weight, according to Koman.

Anyone interested in offering Walden’s Disordered Eating Prevention Seminar Series at their school should contact Katie Fitzgerald at 781-647-2915 or kfitzgerald@waldenbehavioralcare.com.

About Walden Behavioral Care

Walden Behavioral Care, LLC of Waltham, Mass., a private psychiatric hospital, treats eating disorders and psychiatric disorders.  It is the only facility in New England that provides inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care for patients with eating disorders.  It is also the only facility in New England that provides dedicated inpatient care for mood disorders.  By treating mental and physical conditions concurrently, Walden helps achieve lasting results for those who seek a meaningful recovery.  Walden has satellite locations in Braintree, Worcester and Northampton, Mass. and South Windsor, Conn.  Additional information is available on Walden’s website at www.WaldenBehavioralCare.com.

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