The Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia has so many new anorexia cases - amid a decrease in funding - that it's been forced to close its doors to new patients. Admissions among 10- to 13-year-olds alone have increased from three in 2003 to 43 last year.

"State Government funding has not increased to meet demand and despite pleas for help the hospital, which does not have the staff to deal with so many cases, has been forced to reduce its eating disorder beds from twelve to six, and limit new admissions."

The hospital recently admitted a 13-year-old girl who was so sick that she went immediately to intensive care. Exacerbating the situation is a lack of outpatient resources such as counseling. Read more at TheAge.com.

Luckily, here in the US, we have private residential treatment centers, like Island View in Utah, which can help children with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Visit www.islandview-rtc.com for more information.

Labels: children, hospitals, treatment