Welcome to Episode 30 of Live & Learn. Megan Gilmour speaks with Helen Bird from the Butterfly Foundation about how eating disorders affect young people, often in hidden ways, and how stigma delays diagnosis. With 30+ years in health promotion, Helen stresses the need for early intervention, school support, and helping students recover while staying connected to learning.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses affecting over 1.1 million Australians, including 300,000 aged 10–19. Misconceptions and stigma, especially for boys and gender-diverse youth, often prevent help-seeking. The Butterfly Foundation provides support, advocacy, and education, including its Body Kind initiative, which promotes positive body image through free, evidence-based resources for schools and communities.
Read transcript here.
