Powerful Tool's to Help People Overcome Challenges

The HSE estimates that 188,895 Irish people will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives, of which three quarters are women. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates of all the mental health disorders and can be associated with other disorders such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, the need for a diverse, effective range of interventions is acutely recognised. 

The aim of this study is to explore the contributions made by spiritual teachers/practices to the journey of recovery from eating disorders for women in Ireland aged between 35 and 65. International research has found that there is increasing evidence that spiritual practices and spiritual approaches are just as effective for treating people with eating disorders as secular methods. This is the first study of its kind in Ireland. No research has been conducted to assess the extent to which women have used spiritual interventions in recovery from eating disorders.  However, articles in the media have provided descriptive accounts of effective spiritual interventions assisting in the journey of recovery. 

This study will identify useful spiritual interventions by conducting deeply reflective interviews with women who have used spiritual practices in their recovery journey from eating disorders. It will analyse and distil the stories of participants to identify characteristics of spiritual resilience specific to eating disorder recovery.  

For this project, desk based, narrative, and contemplative research methodologies will be employed. The methodology will be Heuristic/phenomenological - to understand vivid accounts of lived experience of participants.

The HSE's National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (2018; p,110), states the need for "specialist care" for spiritual issues. The findings of this study will inform and influence future directions of treatment for those suffering with eating disorders. To incorporate the spiritual dimension, developing healthy whole-person-centred pathways of recovery, that is the psycho, social, bio and spiritual model of care.