Project HEAL and SEA WAVES Bridge Gaps in Access to Eating Disorder Care in the Military Community
Winter Garden, Florida, November 1, 2024 – Research shows that up to one-third of veteran women and one-fifth of veteran men display symptoms of eating disorders, with military spouses and children diagnosed at rates three times higher than civilians. Despite these alarming statistics, diagnosis and treatment options are limited. SEA WAVES is excited to announce that moving forward the organization will spotlight Project HEAL's clinical assessment and meal support programs, which offer free support to tackle significant gaps in the military healthcare system by expanding access to mental health resources, with a focus on eating disorder prevention and early detection. SEA WAVES is referring military service members, veterans, and their families to Project HEAL’s Clinical Assessment Program, which offers free, one-hour virtual clinical assessments for those struggling with their relationship with food and their body. This initiative ensures access to essential screenings for individuals who may not have routine opportunities for such care.
Addressing eating disorders is urgent to tackling the broader mental health crisis in the military. With the second highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, eating disorders are a hidden driver of the military’s high suicide rates—suicide being the leading cause of death for those with these conditions, especially when combined with PTSD, anxiety, or depression. The military’s strict body size and weight standards, including the infamous “tape test,” create significant risk factors for developing eating disorders, with failure to meet these standards potentially leading to demotion or job loss, complicating access to care. Along with early intervention through free virtual screenings, Project HEAL also offers daily, free, community-based meal support to our communities to build distress tolerance and decrease isolation.
“Eating disorders are one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed mental health conditions within the military community,” said Leah Stiles, founder of SEA WAVES. “Project HEAL provides an unprecedented opportunity to catch these issues early and offer solutions. These free virtual assessments give our military community the ability to proactively address their concerns, initiate crucial conversations with healthcare providers, and ultimately prevent the escalation of disordered eating behaviors. It’s about more than just screenings—it’s about changing the trajectory of someone’s health and life.”
While this offering is a significant step forward in providing support, significant barriers to eating disorder care and support for the military community still exist. In 2021, the President signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, which allows the Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency to expand coverage of life-saving eating disorder care for military dependents under TRICARE. This legislation mandates training for command leadership and establishes procedures for military providers to screen, treat, and rehabilitate service members with eating disorders. However, this legislation has yet to be fully implemented. We remain hopeful that it will serve as a pivotal step toward comprehensive care for our service members and their families.
By shining the light on Project HEAL’s services and SEA WAVES’ advocacy, we are bridging critical gaps in access to care for eating disorders in the military community. We’re working toward a future where essential support and early intervention for eating disorders become not only accessible but a standard of care.
While challenges remain, SEA WAVES is committed to advocating for policy advancements, bringing awareness to this silent crisis, and ensuring that every service member, veteran, and family member receives the care they deserve. For more information or to access a free clinical assessment, go to theprojectheal.org/clinical-assessment
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About SEA WAVES
SEA WAVES, founded by retired Navy Senior Chief Leah Stiles, is a nonprofit committed to raising awareness and delivering solutions for eating disorders within the military community. With a mission to provide service members, veterans, and their families with vital tools and support, SEA WAVES works toward a future where prevention, education, and accessible treatment are the norm, ensuring no one faces these challenges alone.
About Project HEAL
Project HEAL is a direct-service non-profit, creating more equitable access to healing Americans’ relationships with food and their bodies. Project HEAL has appeared on NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, Forbes and in congressional briefings as they tackle the crisis of the one in ten Americans who will battle an eating disorder but never receive treatment. Through its six life-saving, low-to-no-cost programs, including Clinical Training, Cash Assistance, and Treatment Placement, they provided over 5 million dollars in free services in 2024. Find out more at www.theprojectheal.org.
For press inquiries please contact:
SEA WAVES:
Charmagne Bagalay
Project HEAL:
Lindsey Hall