There can be shame, guilt and fear attached to a struggle with one’s body or eating, not to mention confusion about whether you, or your loved one, may have a diagnosable or treatable problem. These are just some of the reasons why too many people don’t ask for help. It’s a pity, because talking to a professional can be life-changing. That’s why the Australian Government provides funding to the Butterfly National Helpline, a free and discreet information and support service available to anyone, anywhere in Australia. It's a safe space to connect with a trained counsellor; all you need is the courage to take that first step.

“You need somebody who understands how complex and multifaceted eating and body image-related struggles can be,” says Ayesha Khan, the Helpline’s Clinical Operations Lead. “Everyone is welcome to contact us with their questions or concerns. Typically, people experiencing an issue with their eating behaviours reach out, but it could also be their family members or friends. Many health professionals contact us too.

”We asked Ayesha to walk us through how to use the Helpline, what it can and cannot do, what help-seekers can expect when they connect, and her insider’s view of the service.

Tune in to our latest episode to discover how the Butterfly National Helpline can support you, your loved one, or your client.

Contact the Butterfly National Helpline

If you are in crisis contact Triple Zero

If you are in crisis, contact Lifeline

If you are a young person in crisis, contact Kids Helpline

There can be shame, guilt and fear attached to a struggle with one’s body or eating, not to mention confusion about whether you, or your loved one, may have a diagnosable or treatable problem. These are just some of the reasons why too many people don’t ask for help. It’s a pity, because talking to a professional can be life-changing. That’s why the Australian Government provides funding to the Butterfly National Helpline, a free and discreet information and support service available to anyone, anywhere in Australia. It's a safe space to connect with a trained counsellor; all you need is the courage to take that first step.
“You need somebody who understands how complex and multifaceted eating and body image-related struggles can be,” says Ayesha Khan, the Helpline’s Clinical Operations Lead. “Everyone is welcome to contact us with their questions or concerns. Typically, people experiencing an issue with their eating behaviours reach out, but it could also be their family members or friends. Many health professionals contact us too.
”We asked Ayesha to walk us through how to use the Helpline, what it can and cannot do, what help-seekers can expect when they connect, and her insider’s view of the service.
Tune in to our latest episode to discover how the Butterfly National Helpline can support you, your loved one, or your client.
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1721789246498000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1kCx3qku6lCPCMjW49Uua1">Contact the Butterfly National Helpline</a>
<a href="https://www.triplezero.gov.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.triplezero.gov.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1721789246498000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3jtPqD4ektKAuBo3I1SBWc">If you are in crisis contact Triple Zero</a>
<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.lifeline.org.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1721789246498000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2wBc3-sLyPdgSxr7g9Ns9Z">If you are in crisis, contact Lifeline</a>
<a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://kidshelpline.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1721789246498000&amp;usg=AOvVaw09jioZQOosyfORHeCb7pJr">If you are a young person in crisis, contact Kids Helpline</a>

This is the Butterfly Podcast from the Butterfly Foundation, your national voice for people living with body image issues and eating disorders.

Butterfly: Let's Talk

This is the Butterfly: Let's Talk Podcast from the Butterfly Foundation, your national voice for people living with body image issues and eating disorders.

This is the Butterfly: Let's Talk Podcast from the Butterfly Foundation, your national voice for people living with body image issues and eating disorders.

All you need to know about the Butterfly National Helpline

Carolyn Costin is one of the most well-known names in eating disorder recovery treatment. Her book, Eight Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder, is a pioneering work that was published more than a decade ago and is still regarded as a central text in the field.

Some people think of eating disorders in terms of addiction, with programs to actively get drugs, alcohol, and other addictions out of one’s life. The problem is you can’t do that with food: “You have to learn how to deal with it”, says Carolyn. “It's very different.”

Her eight keys provide insights and steps for facing the daunting task of recovery. From her own lived experience, and extensive work in the field, Carolyn clarifies the overarching topics for us to work through and come to the other side of this illness.

In fact, she's had a hand in numerous initiatives to progress full recovery throughout her career. She developed the first residential treatment centre in the United States that has been replicated in other countries, including Australia. She’s also training recovery coaches to address the very real gaps in care. Carolyn is perennially interesting, and her message of hope is always enlightening.

Read the 8 keys to recovery from an eating disorder

Learn more about Wandi Nerida residential treatment

Learn more about Carolyn Costin

Carolyn Costin is one of the most well-known names in eating disorder recovery treatment. Her book, Eight Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder, is a pioneering work that was published more than a decade ago and is still regarded as a central text in the field.
Some people think of eating disorders in terms of addiction, with programs to actively get drugs, alcohol, and other addictions out of one’s life. The problem is you can’t do that with food: “You have to learn how to deal with it”, says Carolyn. “It's very different.”
Her eight keys provide insights and steps for facing the daunting task of recovery. From her own lived experience, and extensive work in the field, Carolyn clarifies the overarching topics for us to work through and come to the other side of this illness.
In fact, she's had a hand in numerous initiatives to progress full recovery throughout her career. She developed the first residential treatment centre in the United States that has been replicated in other countries, including Australia. She’s also training recovery coaches to address the very real gaps in care. Carolyn is perennially interesting, and her message of hope is always enlightening.
<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Keys-Recovery-Eating-Disorder-Therapeutic/dp/0393706958">Read the 8 keys to recovery from an eating disorder</a>
<a href="https://wandinerida.org.au/">Learn more about Wandi Nerida residential treatment</a>
<a href="https://www.carolyn-costin.com/">Learn more about Carolyn Costin</a>

Updating the 8 Keys to Recovery with Carolyn Costin

Going through fertility treatment can be a nerve-wracking and sometimes demoralising experience. When it’s coupled with a past or current eating disorder, the whole process can be even more complicated.

Why? “Fertility difficulties and going through fertility treatment can increase the risk of an eating disorder, but also, eating disorders can impact fertility,” says National Eating Disorder Collaboration National Manager, Dr. Sarah Trobe.

The NEDC has a new program to help educate health professionals about these issues. It’s important because the intersection between those seeking fertility treatment and those with eating disorders is surprisingly high. Not enough health practitioners are yet aware of this.

“Up to 16% of those seeking fertility care are also experiencing a current eating disorder, which is much higher than the general population,” says Dr. Trobe. "And around 25% have a past lived experience.”

Listen to Dr. Trobe share up-to-the-minute learnings from NEDC’s work in this space and how health care professionals can identify risks and respond appropriately when needed. Importantly, Dr. Trobe also offers insights and tips for self-care around eating and body image for people in treatment, as well as for those thinking about starting the process.

Read Pregnancy: A Guide for Assessment and Referral

Access core skills training for fertility care and eating disorders 

Find out more about NEDC

Find out more about Dr Sarah Trobe

Going through fertility treatment can be a nerve-wracking and sometimes demoralising experience. When it’s coupled with a past or current eating disorder, the whole process can be even more complicated.
Why? “Fertility difficulties and going through fertility treatment can increase the risk of an eating disorder, but also, eating disorders can impact fertility,” says National Eating Disorder Collaboration National Manager, Dr. Sarah Trobe.
The NEDC has a new program to help educate health professionals about these issues. It’s important because the intersection between those seeking fertility treatment and those with eating disorders is surprisingly high. Not enough health practitioners are yet aware of this.
“Up to 16% of those seeking fertility care are also experiencing a current eating disorder, which is much higher than the general population,” says Dr. Trobe. "And around 25% have a past lived experience.”
Listen to Dr. Trobe share up-to-the-minute learnings from NEDC’s work in this space and how health care professionals can identify risks and respond appropriately when needed. Importantly, Dr. Trobe also offers insights and tips for self-care around eating and body image for people in treatment, as well as for those thinking about starting the process.
<a href="https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorder-resources/health-professionals">Read Pregnancy: A Guide for Assessment and Referral</a>
<a href="https://nedc.com.au/professional-development/elearning/eating-disorder-core-skills-elearning-for-fertility-care-professionals">Access core skills training for fertility care and eating disorders </a>
<a href="https://nedc.com.au/">Find out more about NEDC</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-trobe-aa39b597/?originalSubdomain=au">Find out more about Dr Sarah Trobe</a>

In depth with Dr Sarah Trobe: Fertility, your body and eating concerns

A staggering ninety-five percent of young Australians aged between 12 and 18 are experiencing some level of body image concern, and more than half are unhappy with how their body looks. That’s according to Butterfly’s second Body Kind Youth Survey.

With body dissatisfaction playing a significant role in the development of eating disorders, it’s not surprising that this data makes sense in relation to Butterfly’s latest Paying the Price Report, which shows 27% of individuals with an eating disorder are aged 19 or younger.

It's quite clear there’s a problem, but what can we do? How can parents and caregivers reduce risk and support the individual young people they love?

In this episode of Let’s Talk, we invited our audience to submit their direct questions. Then we asked Helen Bird, Butterfly’s Education Manager and Lead on the Survey, to respond.

While acknowledging that it’s not always easy talking to teens, Helen delivered.

“We live in a society where body size matters,” she says. “And people are picking up very strong messages from a young age. It’s in the media, in books, in the toys that they're playing with.”

The trick is to focus on health-promoting behaviours, that is, ensuring that our teens are eating nutritious food, they’re moving regularly, they're getting enough sleep, they're practising self-care strategies, and that they have positive coping mechanisms. These are the things that contribute to our teens’ health and happiness; it's not necessarily about their shape and weight.

And if you are noticing signs of a problem? “Lean in with compassion and curiosity,” says Helen. “Talk about the things that you've noticed, but in terms of your young person’s feelings and moods. Again, try not to focus on weight or eating behaviours because that’s quite likely to be met with resistance.”

Tune in for more of Helen’s wise and empowering tips, even if you might have body image issues yourself. Working to heal your own relationship with your body is not only good for you but also for the people around you, including your teens.

Find out more about Butterfly's Body Kind Youth Survey Findings

Find out more about Butterfly's Body Kind Families

Find out more Butterfly's Education and Prevention Services

Find out more about our Paying the Price Report

Contact our Helpline

A staggering ninety-five percent of young Australians aged between 12 and 18 are experiencing some level of body image concern, and more than half are unhappy with how their body looks. That’s according to Butterfly’s second Body Kind Youth Survey.
With body dissatisfaction playing a significant role in the development of eating disorders, it’s not surprising that this data makes sense in relation to Butterfly’s latest Paying the Price Report, which shows 27% of individuals with an eating disorder are aged 19 or younger.
It's quite clear there’s a problem, but what can we do? How can parents and caregivers reduce risk and support the individual young people they love?
In this episode of Let’s Talk, we invited our audience to submit their direct questions. Then we asked Helen Bird, Butterfly’s Education Manager and Lead on the Survey, to respond.
While acknowledging that it’s not always easy talking to teens, Helen delivered.
“We live in a society where body size matters,” she says. “And people are picking up very strong messages from a young age. It’s in the media, in books, in the toys that they're playing with.”
The trick is to focus on health-promoting behaviours, that is, ensuring that our teens are eating nutritious food, they’re moving regularly, they're getting enough sleep, they're practising self-care strategies, and that they have positive coping mechanisms. These are the things that contribute to our teens’ health and happiness; it's not necessarily about their shape and weight.
And if you are noticing signs of a problem? “Lean in with compassion and curiosity,” says Helen. “Talk about the things that you've noticed, but in terms of your young person’s feelings and moods. Again, try not to focus on weight or eating behaviours because that’s quite likely to be met with resistance.”
Tune in for more of Helen’s wise and empowering tips, even if you might have body image issues yourself. Working to heal your own relationship with your body is not only good for you but also for the people around you, including your teens.
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/get-involved/campaigns/youthsurveyfindings/">Find out more about Butterfly's Body Kind Youth Survey Findings</a>
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/get-involved/campaigns/bodykindfamilies/">Find out more about Butterfly's Body Kind Families</a>
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/school-youth-professionals/about-our-programs/">Find out more Butterfly's Education and Prevention Services</a>
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/who-we-are/research-policy-publications/payingtheprice2024/">Find out more about our Paying the Price Report</a>
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/">Contact our Helpline</a>

All you need to know about the Butterfly National Helpline

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