residential treatment out of reach for many
Patients in New Zealand are struggling to access residential treatment for eating disorders due to regional service gaps and high costs. The article highlights the case of a 24-year-old who faced significant barriers to care due to her location.
Why it matters
It underscores the critical issue of healthcare inequality and the lack of specialized mental health resources in regional areas.
Diante Peihopa-Harris says for the first time in years her life is no longer dominated by her eating disorder.
A post-code lottery for residential eating disorder care is leaving some patients feeling stuck and without the help they say they need.
Diante Peihopa-Harris says when she finally worked up the courage to seek support for her eating disorder, she was told there was nothing available in Northland, where she previously lived.
People whose eating disorders result in significant medical complications can receive care in a medical ward.
However, specialist residential treatment can be out of reach for some people who live where it is not available, or who cannot afford to shell out for private care.
Thirteen years after she first noticed her relationship with food was not as it should be, Peihopa-Harris finally feels ready to break free of the day-to-day battle and look to the future.
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