A Fashion Show to Save Lives

Imagine watching your child battle an eating disorder. You finally get her into a counseling program and are thrilled by her incredible progress only to be told she can no longer continue because your family’s insurance refuses to cover the cost.

On March 13, the Escape to Reality Foundation, a start-up organization focused on providing treatment scholarships for those suffering from eating disorders, is turning the traditional catwalk on its head by hosting its first Destination: Design! fashion show to raise funds for individuals in need.

Fashion shows are usually synonymous with unattainable perfection, so why stage one to raise money to help those with eating disorders? For founder Kristie Ferreira, it was to help people uncover the beauty we hide from ourselves when we look in the mirror.

“In the show, we’re using models of varying ages, sizes and ethnicities. In an attempt to show people something they’ve forgotten. Something we knew as really little children. That we may not look like our best friend, but that’s ok.  That we’re ok the way we are.”

Support for those suffering

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 10 million women and 1 million men are swept up in a life-and-death fight with either anorexia or bulimia. And like with other chronic mental health issues, long-term treatment is essential to winning the war against eating disorders.

However, noted Ferreira, only 10% of individuals with an eating disorder ever undergo treatment, and only 35% of that 10% receive specialized care. Most frightening of all, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. If one does make the choice to undergo counseling, he or she is facing an expensive course of treatment, especially if insurance declines to cover continued care.

Explained Ferreira about some insurance companies, “Those that do pay don’t want to cover it when weight restoration has been complete. The problem with that logic is that weight is not a good indicator of eating disorder severity and in treatment programs they try to weight restore first so that the client is able to cognitively process coping mechanisms and deal with why they’re using eating disorder behaviors.

"That last step is extremely crucial. By removing them from treatment after weight has been restored they’re deeming physical health is more important than mental health.”

As someone who underwent treatment for an eating disorder at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, Ferreira, a sociology student at University of Missouri – St. Louis, knew she had to find a way to help others in her situation. Together with fellow board members, Melissa Caudle Hall and Erin Beale, Ferreira launched Destination: Design! as a way to raise funds for treatment and introduce others to the incredible eating disorder treatment base we have in St. Louis.

The glamorous – yet inclusive – Destination: Design! will not only feature global-inspired fashion from nine designers, but also door prizes, a silent auction and a presentation by Dr. Laura Huff, director of the eating disorder program at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Wool Ballroom at the Busch Student Center, 20 N. Grand Blvd., and tickets can be purchased by visiting www.etrfoundation.com.

One hundred percent of the funds will go toward treatment scholarships, including that of Escape to Reality’s first recipient of donations – a woman who is ready and wanting to enter a long-term residential program, but is having trouble securing the funds she needs to cover the costs of this critical treatment.

“As a person with an eating disorder you’re not living,” said Ferreira. “You’re existing – in a nightmare. I wanted to start this not only to be able the help lift at least a bit of the financial burden off of some that do suffer, but also to open up the discussion about eating disorders and we as a society think is beautiful.”

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting