As part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Student Counseling Services will be hosting eating disorder screening days on Feb. 22 and 26.
Eric Bloch, Student Counseling Services outreach coordinator, said having two days for the screenings is a recent change to the event.
“It’s going to be coming up, and we’re actually changing it,” Bloch said. “We’re actually doing it two days this year on Feb. 22, which is Monday, in a couple of weeks, and that will be held here at Student Counseling. And then we’re doing it that Friday as well at the Student Center in the health and wellness promotion office. “
The screening begins with a brief and completely confidential survey, according to Bloch.
“Basically, what students can do is either stop by here on Monday or in the Student Center on that Friday and fill out a little survey," Bloch said. "It’s really, really brief. It’s confidential, and they don’t have to give their names or anything like that.”
Psychologists then discuss the survey results with students and take any necessary steps toward getting help if they need it, Bloch said.
“It asks about eating and different things that are related to that, and then basically they’ll have a chance to meet with one of our psychologists to talk about the results and see if there’s any cause for concern,” Bloch said. “If so, we get them connected with people that would be helpful to them.”
The screening day is a good first step if students have any concerns regarding eating disorders, according to Bloch.
“If anyone did have a question or thought they had a problem or thought they may have some sort of concern, this is a good first step so that you could meet with someone before ever coming over to our office or setting up an appointment,” Bloch said.
Bloch said the screenings are open to anyone, even if they are asking questions on a friend’s behalf.
“If someone did have somebody they were concerned about, then they could definitely come to the screening day to speak to one of our counselors,” Bloch said. “We’re also going to have a lot of information to give away as well, so they may find some answers through that.”
Student Counseling Services has partnered with Auburn University Body Image Education & Eating Disorders Awareness in the past to help advertise wellness events such as the screening days,
Bloch said.“That’s a student-led organization that we have paired with for things like this in the past, but that’s completely on it’s own,” Bloch said. “When it comes to the actual screening day, it’s just our counselors and our psychologists.”
Bloch said the confidential screening is a good chance for anyone to ask questions.
“This is a good way to ask any questions, any concerns about eating or student counseling or anything like that — even mental health in general,” Bloch said. “This is a good place to come because it’s really confidential, and we’re here to answer any questions they have.”
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