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CNY Therapist Explains Rise in Eating Disorder Cases During Pandemic Eating Disorders Cases Rise During Pandemic

By Brian Ford Jr

BRIAN FORD: Eating disorders will effect nearly one in ten Americans. And Sol Stone center here in Syracuse is one of the few places in Central New York where people experiencing eating disorders can seek treatment.

Program director at sol stone center Rebecca Carpentier says the stress and adjustments caused by the covid-19 pandemic required her and others in her field to adjust how they treat patients.



REBECCA CARPENTIER: Eating disorders really thrive in disconnection and isolation, so when COVID started, the idea of staying at home made things so much harder. Even as a therapist, what I normally would tell my clients to do; reach out, see people, spend time with friends, connect with people, reconnect with people… they weren’t able to do that anymore.

BRIAN FORD: But Carpentier says it wasn’t just the just the pandemic that made people struggle so much over the last year.



REBECCA CARPENTIER: I think there’s been a lot of racial trauma that’s occurred with a lot of the different things that have happened in this last year as well along with the pandemic so I think that affected a lot of our clients of the BIPOC community. Also the LGBTQ+ community were really impacted by a lot of the things that happened like the election. So I think we saw not only the pandemic, but also those other things that have occurred on top of the pandemic have been really impacting peoples’ ability to cope. 




BRIAN FORD: If you think you’re struggling with an eating disorder call the national eating disorder helpline at 800-9-3-1 2-2 3-7 or go to national eating disorders dot org. In Syracuse, New York, I’m Brian Ford… N-c-c news

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  (NCC News) – The pandemic has caused an increase in mental health issues, and those who struggle with eating disorders had a difficult time coping when the structure of pre-COVID life went away.

The National Eating Disorders Association said they’ve seen 40-60% increase in calls to their helpline during the pandemic.

Rebecca Carpentier, program director at Sol Stone Center in Syracuse, said that when the pandemic began and stay-at-home orders were issued, she had to rethink the kinds of advice she would give to her patients.

“What I normally would tell my clients to do; reach out and see people, spend time with friends, connect and reconnect with people,” Carpentier said. “They weren’t able to do anymore.”

Carpentier said the food scarcity and hoarding at the beginning of the pandemic was especially triggering for many patients. Combined with that, she said so many unknowns negatively impacted peoples’ mental health issues.

“I think a lot of the adults have been struggling with hope for the future and not knowing what the future will look like,” Carpentier said.

Sol Stone was able to provide in-person treatment throughout the pandemic, which Carpentier said they are very fortunate for.

But she also said that with many centers offering virtual treatment, it gave people without physical access to a center the opportunity to receive help.

Carpentier said Upstate New York Eating Disorder Service, Safe Space CNY and ANAD provide great resources for people in Central New York and around the country.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder and needs immediate attention, call the national eating disorders helpline at 1-800-931-2237.

 

 

 

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