Funding for at-home meal support programs for people suffering from eating disorders has been recommended by the State Coroner in response to the tragic suicide of a beloved daughter who had extended treatment for anorexia nervosa.
On Wednesday, the Coroners Court of Victoria released the findings into the death of Olivia Evans.
The 15-year-old from Pakenham died at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2023 after ingesting a lethal dose of paracetamol.
Before her death, she had been undergoing treatment for anorexia nervosa with Monash Children’s Hospital.
The inquest into her death looked into her distressed response to treatment that involved medical and psychiatric approaches to her recurring admissions to the hospital.
Coroner Simon McGregor sought the opinion of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Professor Sloane Madden, who said Monash Children’s Hospital prioritised a medical response to Ms Evans over a joint response that included intensive psychiatric care.
Monash Health had a “delayed” response, particularly in assessing further diagnosis of other underlying conditions with Ms Evans.
Professor Madden pointed to treatment in New South Wales and Germany as leading examples, which include psychiatric-led inpatient units dedicated to treating eating disorders that accommodate family admission and outpatient services.
Developing family-based eating habits, Professor Madden said, in an inpatient setting and continuing at home was critical for treatment.
Monash Health made a response that Coroner McGregor accepted, which provided the admission that there was a delay in further assessment of Ms Evans, but noted it can be difficult to make a further diagnosis when a patient is underweight.
The response detailed extensive changes at the hospital regarding eating disorders since Ms Evans’ death, including paediatric assessments within 24 hours of admission, increasing family sessions and more targeted care to reduce readmission.
Coroner McGregor accepted that Monash Health had made an adequate response to Ms Evans’ death.
The state government’s Victorian Eating Disorder Strategy, developed last year, was supported in full by Coroner McGregor.
The strategy seeks to reduce the prevalence of eating disorders by 2031 through extending targeted early intervention that involves alignment with broader health and well-being reforms and builds further coordination between families, carers and medical professionals.
Coroner McGregor noted that 78 per cent of carers for people with eating disorders face impacts to employment and well-being in delivering care.
Following this, Coroner McGregor recommended that the state government fund at-home meal support programs for people with eating disorders.
The recommendation builds upon the advocacy of Ms Evans’ father, Robb Evans, who has called for more awareness and intervention into the prevalence of eating disorders in young people.
If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call the Butterfly Foundation National Helpline on 1800 334 673.
Crisis support can be sought at Lifeline by calling 13 11 14.
