About Us
Who We Are
Giving a name to an illness doesn’t mean the cause of the illness is understood. endED gives an authentic voice to living with a biopsychosocial illness and treating the person not the diagnosis.
The unique and complex nature of an eating disorder demands a model of treatment that meets the genetic, biological, social, spiritual and psychological needs of the individual. A one “type” of treatment for all sufferers does not work as the cause of the underlying imbalance or dysfunction may be different for every person.
The journey to recovery from an eating disorder requires an understanding of how a particular person’s biology and unique genetic code interacts with the environment to determine how sick or well they feel at that moment. Therefore the treatment needs to be personalised, and this may involve multiple interventions over great lengths of time with many multidisciplinary teams. It was this realisation that encouraged compassionate parents and carers to come together and share their knowledge and experiences in hope for better treatment outcomes.
This small group of parents and carers that embraced the idea that treating the whole person not just the diagnosis was the quickest way toward recovery, has now grown to become a recognised and respected community organisation.
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The endED logo depicts a person walking with a shadow falling behind. The person brandishing a smile represents the healthy self of a person and the shadow wearing the sad face represents the eating disorder being moved on from. The image of ED as a shadow was chosen to demonstrate the complexity of the illness – the physical representation of the persons form, the changing /shadow shifting behaviours that mimic those of the illness, the dark one dimensional replication of the individual that the illness promotes, and the final acknowledgement and acceptance that the person is in control of the shadow. Why pink? Pink is recognised as the colour of unconditional love and nurturing. It is a positive colour that encourages kindness, compassion, empathy and sensitivity. It emits a gentle loving energy and is known in psychology as the colour of hope. There is hope.
Our History
endED began at a point of intersection of many personal journeys.
A number of Sunshine Coast based parents and carers were recognised by the Eating Disorder Outreach Service as candidates for a carer skills program. At the completion of the 6 week program the need for ongoing family/carer education and support was unanimously expressed. Parents and carers felt that participating in the program was of great benefit and helped them understand how best to manage their loved one in a home environment.
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The truth was that their loved ones were often in the “care” of staff of a medical or mental health facility/service than at home. Common issues of being let down by the “system”, being locked out of treatment management, and being left unassisted to navigate the medical and mental health system surfaced quickly. This concern united parents and carers to want to be recognised by medical and health professionals as being an incredible resource in the care management and personalised treatment of their loved one.
Forging a community support network that provided assistance in accessing pathways to Queensland Health services, promoting parental and carer contributions to treatment outcomes and driving ideals of collaboration with eating disorder professionals and services solidified the bond and the endED support group began.
Where to now
The community
The Sunshine Coast is a unique region, complemented by a strong sense of community and belonging. An hour from the city of Brisbane the Sunshine Coast is a self sufficient thriving economy that has a lifestyle that is envied by people around the world. The gorgeous beaches and pristine hinterland envelope world class facilities like the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, The Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, The Sunshine Coast University, The Sunshine Coast Airport and exciting innovative local industry.
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The people of the Sunshine Coast are proud to be a part of city that is large enough to meet the needs of its population but small enough to feel a responsibility to contribute to activities and initiatives that benefit the greater community.
endED has received overwhelming positive support from the Sunshine Coast community, council and government.
research ed
We need to benchmark established global facilities and understand current statistical outcomes. We could then feed the USC and CQU for postgrad and honour students to conduct further research with the ultimate goal of developing an endED research cluster. EDs is a boutique research niche market that the Sunshine Coast could lead.
Residential treatment basED recovery
EndED House will be a not-for-profit facility that offers a safe haven for people suffering from an eating disorder to begin their journey to a recovered self. Providing residential treatment options, out-patient services and day programs for continuation of care, endED House will be the first of its kind in Australia focussing primarily on teaching individuals “how” to recover.
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It will provide specialist care using evidence-based research recognised as world best practice. Individualised programs combining psychological, conventional and functional medicine, and whole person therapy based treatment will be offered in a rural residential setting.
The Sunshine Coast aims to be recognised as a ‘health and wellbeing region’, providing excellence in innovation and treatment. endED House will definitely provide recognition to this aim.
Our Testimonials
As cliché as it may sound, ever since I was blessed enough to meet Millie a few months ago when I was an inpatient, she has continued to be my shining light throughout my recovery. I have been struggling with anorexia nervosa for four years now and never have I come across someone as inspirational, hard-working and determined as Millie.
The time and effort Millie has put into my recovery and the recovery of our group is more than any treating team has. She has contributed to my recovery and supported me beyond any professional or multidisciplinary inpatient team which I believe is through her sincere love and care with her own experience and understanding.
I thought I was alone and there was never going to be a end, until I met Millie. Millie is such a caring, lovely and down to earth lady. Her story is very powerful and her strengths and her empowerments are helping others battle their inner demons. Millie has endless amount of knowledge related to eating disorders and is able to share them with her mentees.
Meet The Team
MARK FORBES
CO-FOUNDER endED
Mark is the father of two girls who suffer from eating disorders. He founded endED with the goal of giving HOPE to those suffering from an eating disorder by creating an alternative to the medical model , the first residential eating disorder facility in Australia.
GAYLE FORBES
CO-FOUNDER endED
Gayle is driven to change the perception and increase understanding of eating disorders by the most incredible power in the universe, HOPE, for the most important reason in the world, Love. The LOVE for her daughter the HOPE to create a community where people with eating disorders know they have the support they need.
MILLIE THOMAS
Eating Disorder Recovery Coach
Millie battled Anorexia Nervosa for 15 years and is now fully recovered and providing support and guidance to other Eating Disorder sufferers. She provides individual coaching and a fortnightly support group.For more information please get in touch with our supportive team
For more information please get in touch with our supportive team