Michael Garron Hospital’s (MGH) Child and Youth Eating Disorders Program provides care to patients between the ages of 12 and 18 who live in MGH’s catchment area and who are struggling with an eating disorder. We accept new referrals for patients up to 17 years and six months of age.
Two levels of care are offered for eating disorder treatment: outpatient services (Child and Youth Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic) and intensive outpatient services (NourishED Pathways).
Our treatment philosophy
Our program is committed to delivering evidence-based treatment with a patient- and family-centered approach to support the recovery process. We strive to provide the most appropriate level of care to best address the treatment of the eating disorder and facilitate a return to physical, psychological and functional well-being.
To learn more about our services, please see the descriptions below.
Child and Youth Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic
The Child and Youth Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic offers regular visits, typically involving family therapy with a specialized therapist and medical monitoring by an adolescent medicine provider. Services may also include:
- Individual therapy
- Nutritional support
- Psychiatric consultation
A physician must submit a referral form for a patient to join this program. Please see referral information below.
nourished pathwayS
NourishED Pathways provides additional on-site and at-home support to patients who require more intensive management for their eating disorder. The program operates Monday through Friday, including one day on-site. Services may include:
- All Child and Youth Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic supports (listed above)
- Home instruction with a Toronto Catholic District School Board teacher
- Home support with a Child and Youth Counsellor
- On-site group programming including meal support, academic support, psycho-education and skill building
A physician must submit a referral form for a patient to join this program. Please see referral information below.
REFERRALS
In order to be assessed for admission to the Child and Youth Eating Disorder Program, patients must be referred by a physician. Referral forms can be submitted through the Ocean eReferral Network. If you do not have access to Ocean, please download the referral form linked on this webpage.
Once a complete referral is received and accepted, we offer patients a consultation appointment in the form of a focused assessment with an interdisciplinary team. This appointment helps our team understand the nature and severity of a patient’s eating disorder and determine a treatment plan (if applicable).
Patients are triaged according to need for care and, if they accept the treatment recommendations, will be placed on a waiting list. Patients are contacted as soon as a spot becomes available.
We now accept eReferrals from primary care providers! Find us on the Ocean Healthmap.
If you are a primary care provider and want to sign up for the Ocean eReferral Network, complete the online form or email @email.
Resources
Websites
- The Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre at BC Children's Hospital offers reliable and evidence-based information and resources for eating disorders. The centre’s YouTube channel offers a number of excellent resource videos on meal support and developing a greater understanding of eating disorders and their treatment.
- F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders) is an international non-profit organization for caregivers of loved ones suffering from eating disorders. Its mission is to support caregivers by providing information and mutual support, promote evidence-based treatment, and advocate for research and education to reduce the suffering associated with eating disorders.
- AboutKidsHealth – The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Books
- Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder
James Lock, MD, PhD and Daniel le Grange, PhD - When Your Teen Has an Eating Disorder: Practical Strategies to Help Your Teen Recover from Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder
Dr. Lauren Muhlheim - Help for Eating Disorders: A Parent’s Guide to Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Dr. Debra Katzman and Dr. Leora Pinhas - A Parent’s Guide to Defeating Eating Disorders
Dr. A. Boachie and Karin Jasper - Brave Girl Eating: A Family’s Struggle with Anorexia
Harriet Brown