| “....As a professional working with families
struggling with this DISORDER, I can’t emphasize enough the need for
more education and community outreach as an essential lifeline for
families.... I have had the pleasure of working with the
Stockman family and have always been very impressed with their courage,
commitment and hard work to support other families
along with their own personal impact from this illness....” - S. K. - Clinical Social Worker at eastern Canadian children’s hospital. “....I could think of no one else who would be better qualified, both from a personal experience in that they have been touched by an eating disorder personally or from personal characteristics in their ability to engage an audience... Traditionally...mental illness is very stigmatized and this often limits the flow of information from one party to another. The Stockmans have always been available and have encouraged the referral of other parents to them so that they begin to support these girls who have been recently diagnosed... Yarmouth has been the fortunate recipient of several of the Stockman’s presentations and these have been well received, not only because of the information that is contained in them, but because of the professional and personal manner in which they are able to relate to the audience.... When a child is diagnosed with a mental disorder or any illness, the importance of providing support, not only to the patient but also to the parents, is critical. The Stockmans have been instrumental in providing a critical role for parental support... Their presentation will begin to alleviate the stigmatization that occurs when one suffers from an eating disorder or mental illness or has a child who is diagnosed with an eating disorder... " - S.G. - Psychologist - Mental health branch of eastern Canadian hospital. “....What I learned that evening is still with me, something I am not likely to forget.... I remember feeling quite taken aback at the lack of understanding and knowledge I had about eating disorders despite being a nurse involved in health care for nearly 20 years. As a mother of two young children I was deeply moved... I am not the least bit surprised there are requests for more presentations beyond the Yarmouth area. Kathy and Jim portray enthusiasm, knowledge and the desire to share their story and reach out to others. Their presentation was captivating and thought provoking and a helpful lesson in parenting because ‘parenting’ IS the hardest job in the world. It caused me to examine how I deal with food and eating habits in our home, positive reinforcement with my children, building on self-esteem and cues that may alert me to potential problems....” - K.G. - Registered nurse and parent “....Eating disorders are reaching epidemic proportions in society today, especially among young adolescents. Unfortunately, the availability of good information on how to effectively recognize, diagnose, treat and deal with the disease is not presently reaching those people in need. Many cases are going undiagnosed and untreated... We have come to realize...that the most knowledgeable people are those who have “lived it”. The Stockmans are just such people..." -W. & L. C - Parents of a teenaged girl with an eating disorder. “....Kathy and Jim Stockman...have first-hand experience of the trauma involved and have described the experience well in their presentation. They have much to offer other families.....Their presentation was extremely well presented, both from an information point of view and also from the rapport they exhibited with their audience. They both have competent speaking skills and experience....It will provide a much needed contact for parents and family members and its proactive approach will do much to relieve future stress....” - L.R. - Church minister “....I have had the privilege on two occasions to hear them make presentations on this topic and I feel that any parent would benefit from the message they bring about this devastating affliction.... Their presentation gives listeners an awareness of the impact of the condition on the person suffering from it and the people around them. Such an experience usually tears families apart. Kathy and Jim have demonstrated how a family can survive. This may offer hope to people who may be experiencing some of the pain that they have endured....We need to get the message out to our communities in a sensitive and caring way. This I feel is an effective way of doing so....” - D.S. - Nova Scotia elementary school principal “....Although a great deal is known about eating disorders, it has long been a subject which is kept private by individual families. The very nature of the illness causes parents to question their ability to raise a healthy child, and the stigma prevents open, honest communication on the part of those who are most in need of information and support. Such was the case in Yarmouth until (their daughter’s) illness was diagnosed....(Kathy and Jim) are both university-educated professionals with strong family and social values....Their decision to share their story with the community is immeasurable in so far as raising public awareness of eating disorders and what that has meant to other families in similar circumstances.... Their love for their daughter had led them to do a great deal of research in attempting to understand and cope with her illness. Rather than allow this information to be used only for their personal advantage, they made a conscious decision to do whatever they could to ensure that others benefited from their experience....Before an audience that included medical and mental health professionals, Kathy told “their story”. The presentation was a thorough examination of eating disorders with each aspect personalized by experience....Kathy and Jim are both articulate and very much at ease with public speaking. It is their sincere desire to help others which allows them to speak so openly about their personal lives. It is an extraordinary coincidence that two people who have endured so much and learned so much would also be willing and extremely capable of sharing their knowledge and experience with others....” - G.D. - Parent, R.C.M.P. officer and community/youth leader. |