While You Wait
Hold on to hope.
If the treatment that’s right for you is not available right away, you may find yourself feeling frustrated, discouraged, or scared. That’s natural. We’re here to connect you with resources and support while you wait for care to begin.

Stay Connected
Eating disorders thrive in isolation. Maintain relationships with your community medical and mental health providers while you’re waiting for treatment at Veritas Collaborative.
Find Support
A variety of resources are available to support patients waiting for eating disorder treatment. Learn about free virtual support groups, helplines, and our With Me When app here.
Why is there a waitlist for some programs?
The pandemic has fueled a dramatic rise in eating disorders and demand for care. Consider these statistics illustrating the profound impact of the past few years on Americans with eating disorders:
- 62% of people with anorexia reported that eating disorder thoughts and behaviors increased during the early pandemic, and 30% of people with bulimia and binge eating disorder reported an increase in binge eating and urges (NCEED)
- NEDA helpline calls increased by 40% in 2020
- The National Alliance for Eating Disorders’ support group attendance increased by 82% and its referrals by 108% in 2020; these figures were even higher in 2021
- Eating disorder providers have seen a 30–100% increase in treatment demand, including doubled call volumes and inquiries, increased illness acuity, and waitlists expanding from 1 week to 6–8 months in some parts of the nation
Learn more about the pandemic’s toll on people with eating disorders in the Eating Disorders Coalition’s letter to Admiral Rachel L. Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
COVID’s strain on people with eating disorders has also affected the communities supporting them. Eating disorder treatment organizations, like the entire mental healthcare system, are overwhelmed. Veritas and our sibling brand The Emily Program are actively engaged in expanding treatment access and support, but we are among the many organizations currently seeing waitlists for some programs.
How long will my wait be?
Program wait times vary by location. Your Admissions Coordinator—your primary point of contact after your eating disorder assessment—will notify you when there is an opening in the program recommended for you. You can expect regular communication from them until your treatment begins.
What can I do while I wait for treatment?
Stay connected
Please maintain your connections with your community-based providers while you wait to begin care, including any medical, mental health, nutrition, or psychiatry professionals.
By completing this Release of Information form, you can also allow these providers to share information with Veritas Collaborative. This communication between providers helps to inform care decisions and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Find support
We know that it is incredibly hard to wait for treatment. Although being on a waitlist does not mean that you do not deserve or need care, you may find yourself wondering if treatment is worth the wait. Connection and support are key during this time. Please check out the following resources to help you navigate the waiting period.
Free Virtual Support
Virtual Eating Disorder Support Groups
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders offers free virtual support groups led by licensed eating disorder clinicians. Among them are weekly Pro-Recovery Support Groups for adults affected by an eating disorder and Family and Friends Support Groups for loved ones.
- Pro-Recovery Support Groups:
- Tuesdays, 7pm ET
- Thursdays, 7pm ET
- Saturdays, 11am ET
- LGBTQ+ Pro-Recovery Support Group: Wednesdays, 7pm ET
- Friends & Family Support Group: Thursdays, 7pm ET
Learn more and register on The Alliance’s website.
"Ask an Expert" Live
NEDA Walks
Join us for an upcoming NEDA Walk in your area.
NEDA Walk – Atlanta, GA: Sunday, April 16th, 10am ET. Learn more and register here
NEDA Walk – Richmond, VA: Saturday, April 29th, 10am ET. Learn more and register here
NEDA Walk – Washington, DC: Saturday, April 29th, 10:30am ET. Learn more and register here
NEDA Walk – Charlotte, NC: Saturday, May 13th, 10:30am ET. Learn more and register here
Eating Disorder Helplines
NEDA Helpline (National Eating Disorders Association)
- Call 1-800-937-2237 or text 800-931-2237 to connect with a helpline volunteer trained to provide the eating disorder support and information you need
- If you are in a crisis and need help immediately, text “NEDA” to 741741 to connect with a trained volunteer at the Crisis Text Line. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text messages to individuals who are struggling with mental health, including eating disorders, and are experiencing crisis situations.
- Visit the NEDA website for more information or to access online chat support.
ANAD Helpline (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
- Call 1-888-375-7767 for support, encouragement, and more.
- Visit the ANAD website for more information.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- If you are in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Chat services are also available.
- Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website for more information or to access chat support.
Please access the nearest Emergency Department or call 911 in case of a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency.
With Me When App
Find inspiration, education, and encouragement wherever you go with the With Me When app.
With Me When was designed by eating disorder clinicians as a companion to treatment and recovery. The following features are at your fingertips:
- Logs to track meals, behaviors, feelings, and goals
- Tools to develop coping skills
- Exercises to support mindfulness and relaxation
- Insights to better understand eating disorders and the recovery process
With the ability to customize logs and more, you can tailor the With Me When experience so that it’s uniquely yours. If you’re a Veritas Collaborative patient, you can also complete your patient paperwork and receive appointment alerts through the app.
Access the web version of With Me When here.