“This work, which will empirically quantify the most common barriers and their impact on treatment seeking, is a first step in breaking down these systemic barriers and providing equitable treatment for everyone who suffers from these deadly illnesses.”

…Hurdles include limited health insurance access, out-of-pocket expenses, clinician shortages, fragmented care, and societal stigma that get in the way of adequate access to care.

“More than 13% of women and 3.6% of men on college campuses have an eating disorder of some kind, but fewer than 20% of those affected ever receive treatment due to lack of available clinicians and the stigma associated with seeking help. New research led by eating disorders experts at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates a phone app may help change that.”

“LGBTQ people experience stigma and discrimination, and stressors can definitely lead to disordered eating," Nagata said. "For bi men, they're not just facing stigma from the straight community but from the gay community, as well."

“Wisconsin eating disorder specialists have seen an influx of patients during the pandemic, along with a spike in people seeking other mental health services. They're seeing new clients, along with people in recovery who are suffering flare-ups because of factors linked to the pandemic.

Weight stigma threatens psychological and physical health, according to National Eating Disorder Association data. Worrying about how one looks compounds fears of losing a job, getting sick or a loved one catching the virus to conjure up a mixture of anxiety.”

“With the unemployment rate skyrocketing, the number of people being served by food banks is, anecdotally, surging. And hidden within that population, Becker and some others researchers believe, is a large and growing group of people who challenge every cliché about eating disorders.”

“While stereotypes might indicate that people with eating disorders are malnourished and skinny, the full spectrum of eating disorders goes far beyond these preconceived notions.”

The Academy for Eating Disorders has released a new document trying to bust the stigma and improve knowledge of this disease.

“Men and boys battling eating disorders often go under and un-diagnosed, and according to experts, that's due in part because of a double stigma men can face when it comes to getting treatment. First, men face stigma for having a disorder that's typically associated with women and can be described as feminine, and secondly because of the idea that "real men" don't talk about their emotions.”

AlanJames Burns is drawing a parallel between sound and mental health through psychoacoustic sound artwork. These pieces, performed in pitch black caves around Ireland, are designed to recreate the human thought process and mental health overall. The entire experience mimics the way the mind works, and comments on many mental health struggles, such as hearing voices or having anxiety. Through depicting the mind with sound, Burns is breaking the stigma and spreading the word about mental health.

Upstage Stigma, a performance art troupe of people in recovery showcases a more personal side to mental illness and the impact stigma has on seeking treatment.

Following a psychotic break, a Stanford student was inspired to create a stage play to address the stigma of mental health and to encourage others to get help.

Getting help for a substance use disorder can already be scary, but what if asking for help also meant losing your job and career? A program in New Hampshire is working to reduce the stigma of addiction for nurses by providing an innovative new program to assist nurses in accessing services without risking their license.

For better or worse, social media plays a major role in shaping our attitudes and beliefs. Teen Vogue discusses how mental health providers are turning to social media to combat #DistortedPerceptions and break down barriers to therapy.