sunday star times article

Date: 24 Jun 2007
Headline: Anorexia patient's plea for help

A CHRISTCHURCH actor is calling for better access to treatment for sufferers of chronic anorexia nervosa. Juliet Williams, 28, may lose her battle with anorexia this year after withdrawing from treatment at a private Californian clinic as her bills topped $400,000. She eats only two bags of kumara chips a day.
"What I and many others need, is proper understanding of the condition, and residential facilities with holistic 24-hour-a-day support available to all sufferers in NZ," said Williams, who, if she recovers, is keen to produce a solo show about her struggle with anorexia.
"Only this sort of treatment will allow us to rid ourselves of this filthy disease."
Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder in which patients try to reduce their body size and shape by dieting, exercise and other weight-control measures.
Williams became anorexic 17 years ago after being bullied about her weight at school, and her condition recently worsened.
"Part of the problem is that nobody really has any idea of what should be done," said Geoff Buckett, clinical head of the South Island Eating Disorder Service. "If you look at the guidelines put forward - they don't even mention chronic anorexia patients."
Buckett said more services were being set up to manage acute episodes of eating disorders but there was debate about how to help those with chronic conditions.
"I wouldn't say we need more money but greater understanding and research into the disease and how to treat it."
Williams' father Simon has decided to take time off from his teaching job to raise more than half a million dollars in an attempt to send her back to the private clinic in the US.
"Without this treatment our daughter is likely to die."
Altogether his daughter spent four months at Monte Nido, a specialist clinic in Malibu, California. She lived in the community where she received therapy and medical, psychiatric and dietary advice. The centre is run by a team of medical professionals, therapists, psychologists and nurses available 24 hours a day.
This type of holistic treatment is not available in New Zealand. Treatment for eating disorder patients is limited to specialist treatment facilities more focused on medical treatments. In- patient facilities have large waiting lists. There is one private specialist facility that accepts patients with eating disorders - Ashburn Clinic in Dunedin, but it is stretched to look after eight patients at any one time.
Her parents have remortgaged their house sev- eral times to pay for treatment and she was making good progress but her father was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to bring her home when the cost became too much.
Act leader Rodney Hide said he was alarmed at the number of families coming to him with concerns about their anorexic daughters.
"I am alarmed about the numbers it is affecting - and that the women don't feel that they are able to get the treatment they need in New Zealand."
In March, the Mental Health Commission found that eating disorder services were seriously lacking in New Zealand. Its report revealed chronic bed shortages, long waiting lists and a lack of specialised in-patient care. It said eating disorder service resources were "well below" recommended levels.
Although up to 5% of woman in New Zealand are thought to have an eating disorder, there are only 13 beds nationwide for anorexia sufferers.
* www. savingjuliet.co.nz.