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Your Recommendation
Based on your Level of Care Self-Assessment results, you may benefit from:
👉Community-based support for an eating disorder or disordered eating
In addition to:
👉Treatment for substance use
Understanding Your Recommendation
For Eating Disorder or Disordered Eating Support:
We recommend and your primary care provider explore community-based support options. Community-based support programs do not provide first-line treatment for eating disorders, but they can play an important role in recovery. Community-based support can be helpful for folks with milder symptoms or those at risk of developing an eating disorder. These programs can also be a resource for those who are waiting for treatment or transitioning back home from a higher level of care to help strengthen coping skills, build social support, and improve overall well-being.
For Substance Use Treatment:
We recommend that you and your doctor put in a referral to a substance use treatment program as soon as possible. The regular use of substances can increase the medical risk associated with your eating disorder; can interfere with your eating (e.g., suppress appetite or cause binge eating); or can make it more difficult for you to participate effectively in the treatment for your eating disorder. Getting started with treatment of your substance use will make you much more likely to be successful with treatment of your eating disorder. If this self-assessment has recommended you seek treatment for your eating disorder at a higher level of care, we recommend your doctor put in a referral to an intensive eating disorder treatment program. Because of the risk associated with your eating disorder, especially in combination with substance use, you will likely be admitted to a higher level of care for treatment of your eating disorder and plans made for treatment of your substance use.
Substance Use Service Providers Available to Ontario Residents:
Homewood Health Centre, Substance Use Program
Located in Guelph, Ontario
Partially subsidized (covered by OHIP) payment options, inpatient treatment (ages 18+)
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Concurrent Disorders Program
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Inpatient and Outpatient programs
For low barrier substance use treatment options online that do not require a referral please visit:
Working with Your Primary Care Provider
We encourage you to share your LoCSA results with your primary care provider. Your primary care provider plays an important role in helping you understand your care options, review medical considerations, and take the next step toward recovery. It can be scary to start this conversation. Usually, it’s best just to be direct: “I am worried about my eating and was hoping to talk with you about treatment options for an eating disorder”.
If you’ve never had a conversation with your primary care provider about your eating disorder or disordered eating concerns, we recommend you check out the resource below to help you prepare the information you might want to share with your primary care provider:
Follow-Up Questions:
Along with your LoCSA results, there are other important factors that can affect which care options may suit you best.
Here are some possible follow-up questions to ask your primary care provider:
“Will I need to take time off work or school for this type of care?”
“Are there local programs or virtual options available?”
“What happens if there is a long waitlist? What can I do while I wait?”
"I’m not sure I feel ready to recover or commit to this level of care — What supports can help me get started?””
“I’ve tried _____care before — what are my options if that wasn’t a good fit?”
Want to Talk Through Your Options First?
If you’d prefer to speak with someone about your care options before connecting with a primary care provider — or if your provider isn’t familiar with eating disorder supports — the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) can help.
Their trained support workers can listen, provide information, and guide you through available resources.
Live Chat: www.nedic.ca
Helpline: 1-866-NEDIC-20 (or 416-340-4156 in Toronto)
What if I Don’t Have a Primary Care Provider?
If you don't currently have a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner), Health Care Connect is a free program from the Ontario Ministry of Health that can help you find one.
Resources to Explore:
What You Can Do While Waiting for Treatment
Talking To Your Primary Care Provider About Medical Monitoring:
While you're accessing support, it's important that your primary care provider is keeping track of your physical health. This medical monitoring can help keep you safe.
To support your primary care provider in this process, we recommend sharing this resource with them:
When to Seek Emergency Care
Eating disorders can cause serious medical complications. You should go to the emergency department if you experience:
Very slow, irregular, or racing heartbeat
Chest pain or pressure
Fainting or dizziness upon standing
Severe headache, confusion, or seizures
Severe muscle cramps or weakness
Vomiting blood or severe abdominal pain
Very little or very dark urine
Swelling in limbs
Suicidal thoughts or not feeling safe
For those with Type 1 Diabetes: High blood sugars associated with the presence of ketones; symptoms of DKA such as stomach pain, shortness of breath, feeling sick, feeling tired, sleepy or confused.
When in doubt, go to the emergency room. It's always better to be safe.
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