In the past Jane Smith* and her husband Tom* have struggled alone with being the parents of a daughter with an eating disorder and now they are reaching out to others like them in Squamish to share their experiences in a support group.
"We both feel that this is an issue a lot of families are going through," said Jane. "Some families might feel embarrassed, I personally feel like I failed my child. This would be an opportunity for parents to sit down and let frustrations and anxieties out and say to each other, 'I know how you feel; I know what you are going through."
The Smiths are aware their daughter has had an eating disorder for the past 18 months and the couple found attending a support group in Vancouver very helpful.
"Travelling the highway is difficult so we wanted to start this for us and other parents in Squamish," said Jane. "We just don't believe we are the only people here going through this."
The group will meet the third Wednesday of every month and a counsellor from the Ministry of Children and Family Development will be present at the sessions. The Smiths are concerned people in Squamish will not attend the meetings for fear of knowing other people at the meetings.
"I think in Squamish some people don't want other people to know their business, but the meetings would be strictly confidential," said Jane. "Knowing people can also be a good thing because you can bounce ideas off each other. Families who have gone through this can also tell others what worked for them and what didn't."
The Smiths said being a parent of a child with an eating disorder is extremely difficult and by sharing with others you can help each other.
"It is something I live with every day," Jane said. "I am asking myself: has she eaten today? Is she harming herself today? Is she purging today?"
"I want other parents to know they don't have to go through this alone. I am asking people to please come to the meetings. We have to support each other as parents.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The sessions will take place in confidentiality at the Squamish Emergency Program building next to the RCMP office on Finch Drive. For more information email [email protected].
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the daughter in the story.
