Below is a listing of the contact information for the resources available at NYU. By contacting any one of the below resources, you are taking the first step towards recovery.
NYU On Campus
- Counseling & Behavioral Health Services
Appointments: 212-998-4780 - Health Promotion Office
726 Broadway, 3rd Floor
212-443-1234 - Nutrition Services
Appointments: 212-443-1122 - Primary Care Services
Appointments: 212-443-1122 - Wellness Exchange
24/7 Hotline: 212-443-9999
Links
- Something Fishy
Pro-recovery web site on eating disorders. - The National Women's Health Information Center
Body Image and Your Health, a project of the U.S. Deptartment of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. - National Eating Disorders Association
The largest not-for-profit organization in the United States working to prevent eating disorders and provide treatment referrals to those suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder and those concerned with body image and weight issues.
Helping a Friend
Eating disorders not only affect the individual suffering from the illness, but also those around them. It can often be difficult for friends or family members to watch some one they care about struggle with the symptoms associated with the disorder.
Often times, being in a college setting allows friends to be intimately aware of the behavior patterns of friends. So the question is, how can you help a friend that may be struggling with an eating disorder?
- Learn as much as possible about eating disorders. NYU Student Health Center offers many resources to students. To begin with, this website provides general information as well as links to other websites providing more detailed information. Also available to students are the resources at the Health Promotion Office at SHC.
- Know the differences between normal and obsessive nutrition and exercise. This is important because when approaching a friend who may not be able to recognize his/her behavior, having a sense of what is normal will be helpful.
- Be honest and just talk with your friend. Avoiding the issue will not help.
- Be caring, but be firm. Let your friend know that you care about them and that you are only worried about their health and happiness. Individuals with eating disorders will likely not agree with your assessment of the situation, so be prepared that your friend may go through a period of denial.
- Tell someone. If you are very concerned about a friend, tell a friend, counselor, resident assistant, anyone who may help you to manage the situation. An eating disorder can be a health threatening illness, so it is better to err on the side of caution. For more information visit the National Eating Disorders Association Web site.
Reaching out to a friend can be a difficult conversation to have. If you need help with how to talk to someone, come to the Health Promotion Office at the Student Health Center and we'll assist you with helping a friend. Just call 212-443-1234 for an appointment.