While You Wait

The pandemic’s impact on eating disorders is profound and ongoing. Over the past few years, we have witnessed a dramatic increase not only in eating disorders but also in the severity of symptoms. Consider the following statistics, excerpted from the Eating Disorders Coalition’s letter to Admiral Rachel L. Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• 62% of people in the U.S. with anorexia experienced a worsening of symptoms as the pandemic hit, and nearly one-third of Americans with bulimia and binge eating disorder reported an increase in binge eating episodes and urges, according to an ongoing study from the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders (NCEED)
• NEDA saw a 40% increase in helpline call volume during the first year of the pandemic
• The National Alliance for Eating Disorders saw a 108% increase in referrals and an 82% increase in support group attendance in 2020 and surpassed those figures in 2021
• Eating disorder treatment providers have seen a 30–100% increase in demand for care, with call volumes and inquiries for care doubling, increasing acuity of illness, and wait times expanding from 1 week to 6–8 months in some areas of the country

In short, the demand for eating disorder care has never been higher. Organizations like The Emily Program and our sibling brand Veritas Collaborative are actively working to expand access to treatment with additional services and programs—but still, the need is great. Consistent with national trends, some of our programs are seeing waitlists due to the dramatic increase in demand.

Wait times vary by treatment program and location. You will know there is an opening in the program you’re waiting for through communication with your Admissions Coordinator. They will contact you after your eating disorder assessment and keep you informed at regular intervals until you are admitted into the program.

Stay connected

We encourage you to stay connected with your community-based providers while you wait for treatment to begin. Continue to see your community medical provider and any mental health, nutrition, or psychiatry professionals in the meantime. 

Please consider giving your community providers written consent for them to share information with The Emily Program by completing this Release of Information form. The exchange of information between providers can be especially useful in guiding care decisions. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions about the waitlist, have found care elsewhere, or decided against seeking care with us at this time. We want to hear from you.

Find support

While you wait, you might question whether it is worth it to proceed with treatment or feel disheartened with waiting. This is understandable. We want you to know that you are not alone in these feelings, and there are resources available to you during this time.

ANAD Helpline (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

• Call 1-888-375-7767 for support, encouragement, and more.
• Visit the ANAD website for more information.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• If you are in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Chat services are also available.
• Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website for more information or to access chat support.

Please access the nearest Emergency Department or call 911 in case of a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency.