Starving for Survival with Jason Wood

Jason Wood turned his battle with orthorexia into a mission to break the stigma around men’s mental health by publishing his memoir Starving for Survival. He is proud to serve on the board for Running in Silence, Michigan Eating Disorder Alliance, and SoulPaws Recovery Project. Jason is also the Director of Community Engagement at ANAD and facilitates the organization’s new men’s peer support group. Through speaking engagements, his writing, and his work, Jason strives to start an important conversation that encourages everyone--especially men--to speak up, share their stories, and get the help they deserve.

Our Hosts, Linda and John Mazur, and Ellen Bennett, discuss various mental health issues—eating disorders, anxiety, depression, suicide, substance and alcohol use disorders. This team has a combined experience of over thirty-five years in dealing with eating disorders and their co-morbidities. They share their insights on anorexia, grief, advocacy, and the significance of finding support networks. The podcasts feature interviews with mental health experts, authors, and individuals with lived experiences. Linda, John, and Ellen emphasize the need for improved community awareness and the benefits of strong interpersonal connections. Join us as we start the conversations to end the pervasive shame and stigma associated with mental health issues as we strive to improve mental health care and learn to embrace, better understand, and support those who struggle, and those who love them. Let’s help each other pick up the pieces and discover new pathways to healing.

Linda and John Mazur advocate locally, nationally, and internationally. They serve as community advisory board members of the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders. They attended President Biden's Speech, Improving Access for Mental Health Care, in 2023. They have spoken at eating disorder conferences, and for community groups regarding the importance of eating disorder and mental health awareness, advocacy, and education. They provide peer support groups for adults and families through their non-profit, The Emilee Connection, as well as connect people to resources. They wish these supports were available for their adult daughter, Emilee, and for them, as her parents. It takes a village of support to help someone through a mental health struggle. They honored their daughter's last wish by writing a memoir with her writings included, so it might bring awareness to the things that need to change, in the hope that no one else would have to suffer as she did.

The Mazur’s can be reached at: [e-mail]
To learn more about their nonprofit visit: www.TheEmileeConnection.com

Their book and audiobook : Emilee - The Story of a Girl and Her Family Hijacked by Anorexia: Mazur, Linda, Mazur, John, Mazur, Emilee: 9781700920126: Amazon.com: Books

Their book website
www.EmileetheStoryofaGirl.com

Ellen Bennett is an advocate, speaker, retired educator, and director of KMB for Answers which is a non-profit foundation providing educational and financial support for mental health professionals as well as assistance for families in search of resources. She advocates locally, nationally, and internationally, is a community advisory board member of the Western New York Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders, and a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders-Expert by Experience.

For more information about Ellen Bennett and the foundation founded in memory of her daughter Katlyn, go to: www.kmbforanswers.com
Email: [e-mail].