Educators Play an Important Role!

Eating disorder awareness and education in schools is critical for early detection, intervention and direction to the professional help students struggling with an eating disorder need. It is important to raise awareness in an age-appropriate and non-triggering way, so that students aren’t getting ideas, tips or tricks that can contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Below are some ideas to enhance your own knowledge and understanding of eating disorders as well as activity ideas that you can use in your classroom.

View and download NEDA's Educators Toolkit and share it with your colleagues. It offers critical information about eating disorders such as signs and symptoms, how to talk with parents, and how you can help your students who may be struggling. Early intervention and professional help are key to full recovery. Be sure your school staff are educated and have the resources they need to help.

Activities: Ideas for activities to lead with high school students and grade school students, as well as key messages and discussion guides, plus more!

Flyers, Bookmarks & Handouts: Ready to print resources, includes signs and flyers to post around schools with information on eating disorder awareness.

Host a Screening Event: NEDA now offers an easy-to-use online screening tool, in partnership with Screening for Mental Health Inc., perfect for holding an eaing disorder screening event in schools, universities, hospitals, community centers, or anywhere internet access is available! Use the Planning Guide for Eating Disorder Screening Events to get started!

Engage Your Students in Media Activism: Consumer voices can have a real impact on industry decision makers. Plan media literacy activities to teach your students the tools and skills they need to be savvy media critics and use their voice for change.  Click on Take Action Now for media literacy teaching guides and activity ideas.

Request a Free NEDA CD-Rom Toolkit: Have access to your very own disc, consisting of NEDA's Parent, Educator, and Coach & Athletic Trainer Toolkits.  Simply fill out this online request form.

Listen, Join, or Share a NEDAwareness Week Webinar: Be a part of the discussion, or listen to a presentation that discusses the various impacts of eating disorders. These presentations are interactive and offer great insight about eating disorders.  Listen to a previously recorded presentation here.

Host a "Someday Melissa" Screening: NEDA Network Member Someday Melissa documentary is a powerful tool to use for raising awareness of eating disorders and enable a dialog to help reach your community. It provides a platform to discuss education, treatment and prevention of eating disorders. Visit www.somedaymelissa.org/screening to view the trailer and to purchase your own Screening Toolkit for your event.