ALPENA — Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health Authority has announced a free training opportunity ­– Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders with Gail Hall, LMSW, CEDS-S, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13 at Alpena Community College in the Granum Theatre at 665 Johnson St. in Alpena.

Six social work continuing education credits are available to social workers for this training.

Eating disorders are present in a large portion of the population, but often go undetected and, if left untreated, can exist in silence for years, leading to serious medical consequences and a less positive outcome once treatment is sought. Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder, second only to opioid abuse/overdose. It is vital for social workers and others in the community health system to recognize an eating disorder in the early stages of development, as early assessment and intervention brings the best chance of lasting change.

Our Diet Culture will be explored and Health at Every Size approach presented, with active audience participation.

This training is targeted toward front life staff, support staff, social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurses, and other medical and health professionals. However, all interested community members are welcome to attend.

Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders is a short course in the proper diagnosis of eating disorders. Predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors will be discussed. Assessment for medical risk and the decision process regarding when to refer for a higher level of care will be shared.Outpatient treatment strategies for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder will be taught.

After completing this course, participants will:

1. be able to accurately differentiate between the primary diagnostic groups for eating disorders.

2. be able to describe the factors which contribute to the development of an eating disorder.

3. learn at least two intervention strategies for each of the diagnostic groups.

4. have a beginning understanding of likely medical consequences for the individual struggling, as well as how to assess for the need for a higher level of care.

Hall specialized in the treatment of eating disorders for her entire career. She worked in outpatient and inpatient settings before forming Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders, based in Grand Rapids, in 1998. In 2021 she sold her practice to Sanford Behavioral Health, an addiction treatment organization; together they created the first Residential Program in Michigan for those with eating disorders. She is now retired, but continues to speak, train, and supervise the next generation of ED specialists. Her nonprofit, the Michigan Eating Disorders Alliance, is dedicated to increasing prevention efforts, advocacy work, and decreasing stigma for those with eating disorders.

The morning training session will run from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be a break for lunch and the training will resume at 1 p.m.

If you have questions or require special accommodations, call or email Genny Grimshaw at 989-358-7842 or ggrimshaw@nemcmh.org. Space is limited. Registration closes Tuesday, Oct. 10. Cancellation notice is appreciated. For full details including the link to register, visit nemcmh.org/training.