Eating Disorders and Incarcerated Women

Contributor: Chaplain Charlene Harvey, guest contributor and Jane McGuire, BA, Executive Assistant for Eating Disorder Hope.

Eating Disorder Hope was fortunate enough to receive the following correspondence from Chaplain Charlene Harvey in Dayton Texas. We have adapted her story to share with our community.

Charlene Harvey is a CVCA (Certified Volunteer Chaplain Assistant) at Plane State Women’s Jail in Dayton, Texas. She has served there over 10 + years. During this time, she has seen an increase in incarcerated women displaying various self-destructive behaviors. Two of these behaviors are disordered eating and self-cutting.

Often times, Chaplain Harvey says she finds that the women binge on “junk” food, as the food they are served every day is full of carbohydrates, fats and sugar. Some women are able to cover up this problem.

As Chaplains, they are not trained in the area of counselling for self-destructive actions. The Chaplains’ focus is to provide spiritual instruction. Often times the inmates are struggling with these behaviors, Chaplain Harvey stated, but the Chaplains are not educated in recognizing them.

Frequently the inmate’s battle with low self-esteem, hopelessness, separation, and some have even burned the bridge of relationship with their families, so now they have no one. Occasionally the Chaplain’s notice some evidence of cutting.

In an effort to help educated the Chaplain staff as well as the inmates, Chaplain Harvey reached out to Eating Disorder Hope and Addiction Hope for support. Her initial request was to provide educational books for the inmates as well as the Chaplain staff to help educate them on disordered eating.

Eating Disorder Hope was able to help by sending a collection of books on eating disorders to help those seeking healing. The book donation is a collection of books on eating disorders which can use to help those in need of healing. The Chaplains will also use some to educate themselves and bring awareness.

Chaplain Harvey’s intention is to place books in the Chaplain Library so the women will be able to read all of the great success stories. She is hoping it might open a door of communication between the inmates and the counselors.

Plane State Jail could utilize more material and books on both subjects. If you have a desire to help in this matter, please send donated books/material directly to the following:

Plane State Jail
Chaplaincy Dept.
Attn: Chaplain Debbie Dunn
904 FM 686
Dayton, TX 77535

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 10, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com