At UNH, there is a very valuable yet underutilized resource for students struggling with eating issues: the Eating Concerns Mentors program. This program is relatively new, as of Spring 2009, and it is one that is a rare find on U.S. college campuses, due to the time and money that must go into maintaining quality and support.

However, Suzanne Sonneborn, a nutrition educator at UNH’s Health Services center and the advisor of the Eating Concerns Mentors program, feels that the time and money spent are well worth it.

“I feel personally that it is important, so I make it part of my work. It’s a valued program,” Sonneborn said. “We’re not going to give up.”

The program consists of 20 student peer mentors, half of whom are trained to counsel patients, and the other half of whom work on outreach (particularly social media).

Students who are dealing with eating issues request a mentor online, and then receive initial support via email. The mentee then decides the length of time for which they would like to receive help, as well as the contact method (i.e. by phone, email, in-person). According to Sonneborn, mentors have assisted in both short and long-term cases. And, of course, everything is kept confidential.

The student leaders of the group are seniors Elise Macdonald and Sara Fechner; Macdonald is a Psychology major with a minor in nutrition, and Fechner is a Nutrition major. Like Sonneborn, the two young women both believe the program to be invaluable, especially on a college campus.

Macdonald’s involvement began during her sophomore year, after she saw an advertisement in one of the campus dining halls.

“I was looking for something to do that was nutrition-related, and I thought this program was a great idea because you see eating disorders and fat talk everywhere,” Macdonald said.

Fechner is one of the founding members, and is also responsible for pairing mentors and mentees; she,too, became involved during her sophomore year. In high school, she had a friend who was struggling with bulimia, and Fechner said that she had no idea how to help. The friendship suffered as a result; now, the senior says she participates in the program in part as a way to give back after not knowing how to respond.

One of the main obstacles the group faces is getting the word out and, even more frustrating, encouraging all of the students who need help to actually seek help. While the group aids several students a semester, especially during the beginning of the semester and during exams, the number of students on campus estimated to have eating disorders versus those who seek help is low.

“We wish more people would seek help; there are definitely more people who need it than who ask for it,” Fechner stated.

Fechner also expressed her admiration for her peers, who give up so much of their time to help others.

“It is a lot of work, and it would not happen without students like Sara and Elise,” Sonneborn said. “ They [eating disorders and body images] are tough issues to talk about, but nothing is ever going to change unless we do something.”

The Eating Concerns Mentors program also plans and manages Fat Talk Free Week, their biggest campaign of the academic year. To request a mentor, or for more information, check out their Facebook page.