Eating disorders and the DSP

[casper]

Hi Everyone, 

I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who has tried to apply for the DSP because of an eating disorder and been rejected? I recently received the dsp but that was only because ADHD was my primary and their main focus. I would really like to help change the fact that eating disorders have been categorised under the dietary table. This needs to corrected. Sever mental illnesses like Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and OSFED are not categorised under the mental health impairment table, even though research has proven that they are the most fatal of all mental illnesses and there has been very little found on any pharmacological assistance for these. 

I just don't really know where to start to try and make these mental health issues are seen as severe mental health diagnosis'. They are not just a choice or because of an over inflated ego. I reallly want to educate the nation about the severity of eating disorders and the rise in number of diagnosis'.

Any advice would be much apprecitated 

Thank you

[Deleted]

Welcome to the forum casper. Another new member with something most of us have possibly never ever thought of as being eligible for DSP, let alone on the mental health tables.

Advice on where to start.....source up all of your evidence, put it into a good argument and send it off to Senator Rachael Siewert, the Greens spokesperson on welfare matters and advocate for justice in the system.

I can guarantee you will get a well thought out response, rather than form letters most others would send. Good luck with it all! Cheers bear

[nomadic]

Welcome casper, alas I don't see you having much success with it all albeit you are 100% correct. You can see many different disabled cases on the forum these days. They are now refusing almost every new application for the DSP. Even quadriplegics. Under the horrific new rule that you must be fully diagnosed, stabilized and treated. And the legal loop holes they use to deny everyone these days defy belief. People must then appeal the decision but many just accept it. Now 200,000 disabled on the dole. So best of luck is what you need but bears advice is a good way to start. Cheers, nomadic.

[tasjo]

Without being negative, the table that your diagnosis fits into has little relevance to how the DSP claim is assessed. I had a similar issue with my auto immune/systemic condition being classed by joints/areas affected because it is an 'arthritis' condition.

For me one of the biggest challenges for those applying for DSP is the potential for an assessment by someone who either doesnt know a single thing about their condition and/or can override medical evidence that the person cannot work more than 15 hrs a week.

Not that its not a good idea to keep highlighting these issues.

[latindancer]

Hi Casper, I think that eating disorders are seen as symptoms of larger disorders, such as your ADHD.
So it's not as much that they don't see them as being non-important, as just them trying to find the primary cause and listing that as the reason someone is on DSP.

I have a mild attention deficit myself. And I have diagnosed myself as being on the very end of the Aspergers / Autism spectrum. From my own understanding autism is the cause of ADHD and a few other related or co-occurring conditions.

[casper]

Thanks heaps for the advice on where to start bear

tasjo my post was more about sharing my experience when applying and how it made me realise that anorexia and bulimia, as well as other eating disorders where not even classified in the mental health table at all. This just goes to show how little people actually know about how severe these disorders are, and alot of those who suffer from them struggle severely managing day to day life without assistance.

latindancer eating disorders are not symptoms of larger disorders. It is more-so the other way around. My ADHD is a result of my eating disorder. People who suffer from anorexia deprive their brains of vital vitamins and nutrients, send the body into starvation mode, and they is neurological studies showing that the neuropathic pathways of those who suffer from an eating disorder can be slightly to completely different to someone who does not.

which just makes me more motivated to educate people about the severity of these disorders so that more help can be provided to those who suffer in silence.

[latindancer]

Yes....I saw an article recently about the brain scans of eating disordered people being quite different.

Perhaps I should have remarked that many of these different disorders are developmental disorders, which really are just human genetic and developmental diversity in play. Without them we would have no diversity between individuals, and no evolution.

Good on you for wanting to bring public attention to other peoples' suffering. Out politicians certainly need to be woken up to it.

[casper]

I haven't been able to find many forums or posts about eating disorders on the forum and I'd just like to offer for anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder or knows of someone, or would just like to help out to post your story, news, information etc you know about Eating Disorders