by Damien Alarcon
Editor in Chief
The Counseling Center provided free screening at the University of La Verne last week for the general public with potential eating disorders.
The program was performed during the nationally-recognized Eating Disorders Awareness Week, an annual event created by the National Mental Illness Screening, a non-profit organization. This is the first year that the Counseling Center has participated in this annual program, and hopes to host it in years to come.
People filled out a survey that contained questions that would reveal whether they may possibly have an eating disorder.
“Based on the information that was given to us, at a certain point we would refer them if we thought we needed to consult with them,” said counselor Paige Bunch, who coordinated the event.
All surveys, nationwide, will be collected by the National Mental Illness Screening and the results will be accounted for statistics.
The screening, which was open to the public, was available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Seal. On Tuesday, however, it was available from 1-3 p.m.
On Wednesday night, there was a group of speakers covering important topics relating to eating disorders in the President’s Dining Room. The group consisted of Dr. Debra Adler, Dr. Karen Greenbaum-Maya, Bette Ozburn, registered dietician Lorraine Lubanski and a college student who is currently in recovery from an eating disorder.
According to Bunch, eating disorders are not often heard of because “it is not something people go around saying.”
“There were an equal amount of males to females that filled out the survey. Eating disorders are predominately female,” she said.
She said the reason for the existence of eating disorders is brought about by the images being presented through the media.
“The response to the panel was somewhat disappointing, but for the first time doing this, I think it accomplished what I set out to do,” said Bunch. “All that we were trying to do was make this [issue] aware to people.”
