First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders Canada (FREEDcan) is a national initiative focused on improving access to early intervention for eating disorders in community settings across Canada.
Founded in 2020, FREEDcan is a Canadian co-adaptation of the United Kingdom's evidence-based FREED model. Working alongside youth, families, people with lived and living expertise, clinicians, researchers, and community partners, FREEDcan is adapting and evaluating approaches that make eating disorder care more accessible, effective, and responsive to the needs of Canadian communities.
Guided by three core pillars, Early Identification, Initial Response, and Evidence-Based Interventions, FREEDcan seeks to reduce barriers to care, support earlier access to services, and improve outcomes for young people and their families.
Publicly-funded care includes intensive treatment, like inpatient or day patient programs. If you are worried about your health and think you might need that kind of care, you will need a referral from your doctor.
Some providers work in the private sector, so they charge a fee. If you have insurance, it may cover some or all of the fee. You don't usually need a referral to see this type of provider.
For example, a counsellor or therapist would address any concerns in relation to mental health and emotions, and a dietitian would work with you to develop a nutrition plan for ensuring that your nourishment needs are met and relearning how to tune into your body's cues and eat in a flexible way.
Canada has many groups offering free and low-cost community-based supports to people who are affected by eating disorders. There are support groups for people affected by eating disorders and/or disordered eating, and for family, friends, and loved ones. Some are available online. Many services are non-clinical in nature (i.e. not treatment) and free of cost or publicly-funded. These community-based supports can usually be accessed without a diagnosis or referral.
You can use NEDIC's service provider directory to find providers in your area. You can filter to find specific types of providers or types of care.