Amy Hanley, founder of MindEverybody
Limerick City and County Council Corporate Headquarters will turn purple this Sunday, June 2, to mark World Eating Disorder Action Day.
The Limerick building will be lit up in purple along with three Dublin buildings, the Mansion House in the city centre, Fingal County Hall in Swords and Fingal’s Civic Offices in Blanchardstown.
The initiative is led by MindEverybody, an advocacy group seeking urgent and long term improvements in eating disorder services in Ireland, and the goal is to raise awareness of eating disorders and send a positive message that people can and do recover, once they get the specialist supports they need. Purple symbolises eating disorder recovery.
MindEverybody is also encouraging the public to sign a Change.org petition calling for various reforms that will be delivered to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly and Minster of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler. Over 2,200 signatures have been gathered so far.
Amy Hanley, the mother who set up the MindEverybody group following her horrendous experience accessing treatment for her teenage daughter, who was diagnosed with anorexia in 2022, said: “Last March we organised Eating Disorder Protests across Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway to amplify the voices of sufferers and their carers and demand systemic changes that ensure equitable, timely, and accessible treatment for all.”
“This Sunday we are building on those efforts to raise awareness and amplify our voices further. We encourage people who see the buildings illuminated on Sunday to take a picture and post to social media with hashtags #WorldEDDay2024 and #realrecovery&hope and to tag @MindEverybody.”
“We are so grateful that Fingal County Council, The Lord Mayor of Dublin, South Dublin County Council, and Limerick City and County Council are getting behind our campaign.
“Eating Disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness and the major shortcomings in Ireland’s treatment services perpetuate the suffering of individuals and families dealing with the illness.
“This year on World Eating Disorder Action Day we are asking for even more policy action to be taken by governments and leaders to ensure caregivers receive support, health care workers are properly trained, and that affected people and families get immediate, evidence based treatment.”
