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The Joy Project is a non-profit, grassroots organization based on the philosophy of using real-world, workable solutions to end the epidemic of eating disorders. We work towards reducing the rate and severity of eating disorders by supporting and conducting research, education, and support programs. The Joy Project does not seek to replace or discourage traditional or current treatments, but to expand the options for treatment. We seek to make treatment options more accessible to anyone affected and find and implement ways to make treatment more effective. The Joy Project seeks to empower individuals with eating disorders to be active participants in their own recovery.
The Joy Project was founded after the founder, Joy, found herself going through the recovery process alone, without treatment and support. After reaching a stable point in recovery, Joy stumbled across an eating disorder message board where she shared her experience in recovery and heard the stories of many other people who were dealing with eating disorders. After getting to know other members of the online community, she realized that there were many others who wanted to recover, but lacked adequate support and treatment. Members of these message boards spent months discussing potential ways to provide support and resources to people in recovery that was widely available and cost-effective. These discussions led to concrete plans to create innovative support programs that would help to fill the void for many people who lack the resources to obtain ongoing treatment.
On these forums, members spent a great deal of time discussing current topics in eating disorder research as well as personal experiences with various forms of treatment. Today, treatment programs have shown progress in learning what works and what doesn't for helping people to achieve lasting recovery. We believe that recovery rates can be higher. We have spent years discussing eating disorder treatment with the people who are living with the thoughts and behaviors on a daily basis. In addition, Joy and other members of The Joy Project staff spent a considerable amount of time researching eating disorders from a theoretical perspective and obtaining degrees in psychology, social work, neuroscience, and counseling. It is our goal to become the bridge between the professional community and those who rely on them. We believe that people with eating disorders have alot to say, and that by listening to their stories and valuing their experience, we can help to direct future research along a path that will lead to new discoveries and breakthroughs in eating disorder treatment.
- We intend to develop programming that will produce the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people affected by eating disorders while creatively using the least amount of resources possible.
- We strive to stay informed on current academic research and to pass on well-researched information to our clientele.
- We believe that recovery is a unique experience for every individual. We do not measure success by whether our clients gain or lose a specific amount of weight or consume a specific number of calories without fail. Instead, we believe that healthy eating is one essential piece of the recovery process. Ultimately, our goal is assist individuals in learning how to eat normally so they can maintain an active and fulfilling life. We encourage our clientele to discover their own unique skills and goals, focus on finding balance, strengthen their social skills and contacts, and continuously grow as an individual.
- We want to make our programming available to all who may need it. We will not discriminate based on sex, race, class, gender, weight, age, location, specific diagnosis, or economic status. Whenever possible, we
strive to provide our services for free or at very low cost so they will be accessible to all.
- We will strive to remain an unbiased source of information. We will not accept donations from for-profit eating-disorder organizations if that donation is intended to earn any sort of favor or positive review.
- We intend to involve individual who suffer or have suffered from eating disorders in all aspects of our programming. We will not prohibit actively eating-disordered individuals from volunteering with us, provided that their volunteering is a positive influence on their overall well-being. Their activities may be limited to projects that do not involve face-to-face support with other eating-disordered individuals. We also intend to actively request feedback from the population that we serve, in order to ensure that our programming is successful in meeting their needs.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate among all mental illness. It is estimated that one in 10 people with anorexia will die from physical complications as a direct result of their illness. However, treatment for eating disorders is extremely expensive- often costing up to $30,000 per MONTH for inpatient treatment- and insurance companies often refuse to pay, even for some of the sickest individuals. In fact, according to info from the Anna Westin foundation (which was founded by the mother of a girl who died shortly after her insurance company refused to pay for her treatment, calling it "unnecessary") one in five eating disorder experts believes that insurance companies have indirectly caused at least one of their patients to die. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, only ONE-THIRD of people with anorexia in the community receive mental health care. An astonishingly low SIX percent of people with bulimia will receive mental health care.
The Joy Project intends to accomplish the tough task of meeting the needs of those who wish to recover through a wide variety of initiatives including:
- in-person support groups
- internet support chats
- an internet message board
- informational assistance for family & friends of sufferers
- providing information on nutrition, medical & health concerns, basic psychology of EDs, healthy exercise habits, emotional work & healing, and the physiological complications of eating disorders
- promoting self-help programs as an alternative for patients who are denied treatment
- working for change in the manner in which eating disorders are diagnosed and treated
- continuing to lobby for additional support from insurance companies and government regulations so that more people can get adequate treatment
- work toward the establishment of recovery-supportive housing for those for whom traditional residential or partial programs are not an option
We do not at this time provide therapy or diagnosis. We are not licensed to do so. We DO provide support, information, advocacy, awareness, and resources. We intend to provide our clientele with additional tools that they can use in their recovery process.
We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization.
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