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(Paramus, NJ) – Paramus, NJ – Eating disorders are the second deadliest mental illness, taking a life every 52 minutes. The country has seen an astronomic rise in eating disorders as a direct result of the pandemic. The new Center for Eating Disorders & Body Positivity at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center provides much-needed support to those who need a diversified treatment program regardless of their insurance status. The Center opened in November 2022 and has the ability and capacity to treat the uninsured or those on Medicare and Medicaid, in addition to accepting private insurance. “As a premier source for behavioral healthcare in the community, we recognized that there was an unmet need for some patients seeking treatment for disordered eating especially in North Jersey,” said Bergen New Bridge President and CEO, Deborah Visconi. “This center addresses the epidemic we are facing with eating disorder diagnoses by providing compassionate care and support to all who need it.” “Eating disorders are on the rise across the nation but they are especially on the rise here in this part of the country,” said Dr. Steven Vayalumkal, Lead Psychiatrist, Center for Eating Disorders & Body Positivity. “We are providing a much-needed service which we hope will have a positive impact on the community.” “I know that quite literally, eating disorders can be life or death, so we hope to foster change for those looking for recovery and to support them in their journey,” said Adrienne Mariano, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services. The program runs three days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants have individual psychotherapy sessions with a board-certified psychiatrist as well as a qualified therapist. Group therapy sessions are also provided to allow participants to express their feelings and learn from others. Multifamily group sessions are held on a designated evening or weekend, providing the patients’ families with support and the opportunity to interact with other families to better understand the recovery process. Nutritional counseling is also a key component of the program. This counseling is integral to recovery and teaches patients how to have a healthier relationship with food. Most insurance plans are accepted by the center. Self-referrals are accepted for review and for assessment for participation in the program. For more information visit www.newbridgehealth.org/eatingdisorders ABOUT BERGEN NEW BRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (BNBMC), a clinical affiliate of Rutgers, is a 1,070-bed hospital located at 230 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, NJ. The Medical Center is both the largest hospital and licensed nursing home in NJ and the fourth largest, publicly owned hospital in the nation. Bergen New Bridge, a not-for-profit safety net facility, provides high-quality comprehensive services, including acute and ambulatory care, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, long-term care, 24/7 emergency department, surgical suites, physical rehabilitation, pharmacy, laboratory, radiologic services (including digital mammography). It is a leading provider of COVID 19 testing, vaccinations, and therapeutics. The Medical Center also has satellite offices in Bergenfield, Englewood, and Paterson. Primary care and other health and wellness services are available at the hospital's CareRite Now centers located in select Inserra Supermarkets in Bergen County. Bergen New Bridge is in network with all major New Jersey commercial insurance plans covering 99.91% of NJ residents and is a Veterans Community Care Provider. It is also a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). Learn more at www.newbridgehealth.org.