Southern Support Eating Disorder Service

You can call or email the Southern Support Eating Disorder Service if you have concerns about your eating, behaviours or symptoms and would like advice on what to do next. You can also speak with your GP or practice nurse about your concerns.

The service can provide assessment, information and support, and help determine whether further treatment or referral may be appropriate.

For additional information and support, visit Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand (EDANZ).

No. You can contact SSEDS or speak with your GP or practice nurse if you have questions or concerns about eating disorder symptoms or disordered eating. You do not need to wait for a confirmed diagnosis before seeking advice.

Yes. If you’re concerned that a family member, friend or someone you care about may have an eating disorder or disordered eating, you can call or email SSEDS for information and support.

You might be worried about changes in their eating, weight or behaviour. You don’t need to know whether they have an eating disorder before contacting the service.

For additional information and support, you can also visit the Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand (EDANZ).

You can contact SSEDS directly via phone or email to discuss your concerns and appropriate support. Health professionals and other services can also contact SSEDS by phone or email to discuss a potential referral, or send a referral directly via ERMS.

SSED is a free, community-based service, and there is no charge for the support it provides. However, you may need to pay for GP appointments and any prescribed medications associated with your care.

If you cannot afford a GP appointment, you may be eligible for assistance through the WellSouth GP Voucher Programme.

SSEDS supports people across Waitaki, Otago, Central Otago, and Southland. Telehealth support is also available to people outside the Otago region.

In-clinic sessions are available in Dunedin, with support offered via telehealth for those outside the Otago region. People outside these regions are welcome to travel to see a clinician in person.

Yes. SSEDS provides specialist eating disorder knowledge, consultation and resources to health professionals. This can include support with assessment, treatment approaches and referral pathways, as well as ongoing advice. SSEDS can also work collaboratively with a clinician and their client, where appropriate.

When you get in touch by phone or email, we’ll start with a conversation about what’s brought you to us – your questions, concerns, or what you’ve been experiencing. We may ask a few follow-up questions, including about your current relationship with food and eating, your mental health and wellbeing, and whether there are any immediate concerns we should know about. We’ll also check that you have a GP, as medical monitoring is an important part of eating disorder care.

If SSEDS is the right fit for you and you’d like to go ahead with a full assessment, we’ll find a time that works – either in person or via telehealth. Wait times can vary depending on demand, but contact is usually made within the first week after receiving a referral.

The initial assessment with SSEDS takes approximately 1.5 hours. An initial assessment may span several sessions. This is a conversation between you and the clinician to better understand the struggles you might be having. Questions that might be covered include your expectations from the service, what problems you are struggling with and how long these have been going on, any previous eating disorder treatment or counselling, weight history, medical history, diet history, physical health and symptoms, and mental health assessment. Screening questionnaire(s) may also be completed at initial assessment.

Everyone seen within the SSED service must have a GP. Eating disorders can affect the body in ways that aren’t always obvious from the outside, so regular medical check-ups are an important part of looking after your overall health. Your GP is often the key person who coordinates your care with the rest of the team and can help provide ongoing medical monitoring while you’re working on your recovery. 

Part of the consent process is giving the SSED Service permission to share relevant information with the health professionals and other people you’ve chosen to include in your care. Any decisions about treatment will always be made together with you, your GP and other important people in your life. You will receive copies of any important documents related to your care, and the SSED Service will follow the Health Information Privacy Code 1994 when handling your information.