The COVID-19 presents many challenges for the whole community, including health practitioners working with patients with eating disorders. The links below addresses ways you can protect yourself, protect your patients, reduce the risks of community transition of COVID-19 including options to utilise telehealth. There are particular implications for treating patients with eating disorders including managing heightened states of anxiety, dealing with food shortages, access to treatment in a state of crisis.
Some links to assist clinicians with their patients are provided below:
- Australian Government’s Department of Health (AGDH) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Alert: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert#current-status
- Australian Government’s Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Information for Clinicians: Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-clinicians.pdf
- New Zealand government Information on COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) including health, travel, education, business and community issues: https://www.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/
- Australian Psychological Society guidelines on using teleheath: https://www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/Medicare-rebates-psychological-services/Medicare-FAQs-for-the-public/Telehealth-services-provided-by-psychologists
- The government is providing regular updates on MBS adaptations to allow telehealth, this page is updated regularly http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/content/news-2020-03-01-latest-news-march
- Utilizing Telehealth to deliver family‐based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/eat.22759
- Coping with COVID-19 – Video support for therapists: https://www.psychotherapy.net/coronavirus-resources
- Statement from Ahpra and the National Boards in response to COVID-19: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2020-03-12-Statement-from-the-National-Boards-and-Ahpra-COVID-19.aspx
Please see below information from the WHO and other trusted sources across WHO member nations that we hope you will find useful and share with others.
Managing Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resources from the WHO
- WHO guidance on “Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak” as part of risk communication and community engagement technical guidance for COVID-19 response.
- Coping with stress during COVID-19
- Helping children cope with stress during COVID-19
- How to address COVID-19 social stigma
- Q&A about COVID-19 with Aiysha Malik from the Department of Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Additional Mental Health Resources related to COVID-19 relevant to GCPN Members
- United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support: Briefing Note on Mental Health and Psychosocial Aspects of COVID-19
- International Council of Nurses: Press release on mental health and psychosocial support for clinicians during COVID-19.
Updated Information from the World Health Organization about COVID-19
- COVID-19 general website with country and technical guidance, tips to protect yourself, trainings on COVID-19 preparedness, travel advice, and more
- COVID-19 news and COVID-19 situation reports with up-to-date announcements
- Strategic preparedness and response plan for COVID-19 to support national preparedness and response to the epidemic
- COVID-19 course series for health professionals on responding to COVID-19
- COVID-19 Social media cards: Please share via your social channels or retweet from WHO channels.
Other Sources to Access COVID-19 Information
- Johns Hopkins University: Coronavirus COVID-19 global cases map, Public Health On Call COVID-19 podcasts, and COVID-19 experts Twitter
- The Lancet: COVID-19 Scientific Resource Centre
Telehealth and Eating Disorders
- Eating disorders leaders and expert have come together to develop key resources on COVID-19 and Eating Disorders for primary care practitioners, mental health clinicians and services and consumers and carers. The Victorian Centre of Excellence would like to acknowledge the involvement of the following experts and agencies and people in developing these resources: Dr Suba Rudolph, Paediatrician, Austin Health; Dr Suzy Redston, Medical Director, Mental Health Division, Austin Health; Dr Jacinta Coleman, Head of Adolescent Medicine, Monash Children’s Hospital; Dr Michele Yeo, Paediatrician / Adolescent Physician, Royal Children’s Hospital. These resources can be accessed at http://www.ceed.org.au/covid-19-eating-disorders-information-health-practitioners and https://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/find-support/covid-19-and-eating-disorders/
- Butterfly Foundation COVID-19: Tips & Advice for people with an eating disorder https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/covid-19
- InsideOut Institute’s COVID-19 Advice for people with an eating disorder and their loved ones: https://insideoutinstitute.org.au/resource-library/covid-19-advice-for-people-with-an-eating-disorder-and-their-loved-ones
Message from ANZAED President
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