Advocate urges Manitoba to take action as eating disorder treatment waitlist now up to 2 years long

Wait lists for eating disorder treatmentin Manitoba have ballooned as cases have spiked during the pandemic, and advocates are pushing theprovince to urgently intervene.

Appearing alongside members of the Manitoba Liberal Party on Thursday, Elaine Stevenson wept while pleading for Health Minister Audrey Gordonto address wait times, which she says havedoubled to between 18 months and two years.

Shesays early intervention is critical because the conditions of people with the disorders can deteriorate quickly.

"And we are asking these people to wait 18 months to two years for treatment?" Stevensonasked at the legislature.

"Minister Gordon, I am begging and pleading for you to do something to help these families and to help the people that are suffering."

Stevenson'sdaughter died of complications related to an eating disorder and she co-foundedthe Alyssa Stevenson Memorial Trust in her name

In three decades ofadvocating for better treatment, Stevenson says she has never seen wait lists as long as they are now.

Like other provinces, Manitoba has seen the number of reportedeating disorders cases jump during the pandemic, particularly among young people.

Stevenson wrote Heather Stefanson in February urging the then-health minister to provide emergency funding for Women's Health Clinic and boost supports for the provincial eating disorder prevention and recovery program.

Stevenson receiveda written response from someone with the health ministry, but the issue persisted. She wrote Gordon earlier this month outlining many of the same concerns.

Manitoba Liberals health critic and MLA Dr. Jon Gerrard (River Heights) said eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental health issue.

He said the province has known for at least six months about the rise in cases amid the pandemic but failed to meet that rise with additional funding.

"This is really critical," said Gerrard. "I raised this twice in the legislature, in March and April of this year and yet we've had no action. This is just not acceptable."

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface)said the province has money earmarked for mental health services received in the form of a $400-million transfer from the federal government that could be used to expand eating disorder services.

"The money is there, the only thing that is lacking is the political will," he said.

CBC News requestedcomment from the province but didnot receive a response by Thursday night.

Stevenson wants an immediate meeting between provincial officials,staff fromWomen's Health Clinic, and the provincial eating disorder prevention and recovery program to review their funding needs.

"They are fabulous people running the programs there, but you can't expect them to do more with so less," she said.

Her letter to Gordon also said the province should come up with short- and long-term planning for the provincial program, including the possibility of a new residential treatment centre and crisis phone line.

She also asks the province undertake a review of its wait-list system, which Stevenson suggests was failing well before the pandemic.

"Please help me and these wonderful people here today to save people's lives," Stevenson said."They have a right to care and with that kind of care and early intervention, they can recover."