09/01/2023
It has been three months without answers or accountability around what happened with Tessa, NEDA’s harmful AI-assisted chatbot.
And nearly two months without a response to the former interim CEO’s deeply disturbing email • see • sent to NEDA’s Research Advisory Council and several current Board and Senior Staff Members that came to light this past July.
It seems that NEDA is once again waiting for the most recent harm caused to the community to just “blow over.”
One person every 52 minutes dies as a direct result of an eating disorder. That is 2,547 lives lost since the shuttering of the NEDA Helpline. We are in the midst of a mental health crisis and an eating disorder epidemic in America - to wait is unacceptable.
Perhaps we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
We believe solidarity is our greatest tool for change, and want to highlight an alternate eating disorders resource to share if you or a loved one is struggling, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders! provides:
*A helpline, run by licensed therapists specialized in eating disorders, that offers free referrals for all levels of eating disorder treatment and care. Call: 866-662-1235 9:00 am – 7:00 pm EST (Monday – Friday)
*Free, therapist-led support groups for folks struggling with eating disorders and their loved ones, many of which are available online!
*You can also volunteer for the Alliance - both in person and virtually - to help with events, support office needs, and help with small projects. If that kind of community service speaks to your soul, you can apply on their website.
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