Erin Reynolds battled bulimia since childhood, but the weeks before she entered treatment were some of the worst. At 22 years old, she was preparing to leave her home in Helena, Montana, for an inpatient program in New Jersey to receive around-the-clock medical care.
Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, are some of the most fatal mental illnesses –Emergency department visits for teenage girls dealing with eating disorders doubled nationwide during the pandemic,. The same report notes that the uptick could have been due in part to reduced access to mental health services, a reality even more acute in rural states.
That means many people like Reynolds must leave Montana for treatment, particularly true for those seeking higher levels of care, or drive for hours to attend therapy. It also means more individuals go untreated because they lack the flexibility to give up a paying job or leave loved ones behind. , a University of Montana assistant professor and psychologist who specializes in eating disorder research.SeanXu / Getty Images/iStockphoto