Episodes
Four Corners: Fading Away (ABC TV Monday 27 February 2023)
For months, ABC reporter Grace Tobin and her team have been following the stories of families who are desperately trying to secure the right treatment for their loved ones suffering from life-threatening eating disorders. It is estimated that more than one million Australians are living with an eating disorder at any given time, making it one of the most hazardous mental illnesses.
The Four Corners program, Fading Away, examines the intricacies of the illness and shows a health system that is shockingly unprepared to handle this crisis. For 23-year-old Sara, who refers to her eating disorder as a “monster”, the solution is not as straightforward as eating.
“It’s not only the food. When I consume food, there is a great amount of guilt, shame, and anxiety that comes with it. That doesn’t simply vanish with eating,” Sara explains. Her mother, Jenny, is in constant fear, saying, “I come home wondering if she will be lying on the floor or if she will be alright. She could die from this.”
Faye, another mother, lost her daughter Caitlin after a 16-year battle with the illness. “She gave up on the system. It is so broken,” she tells Four Corners.
Four Corners: Fading Away, reported by Grace Tobin, will air on Monday, 27th of February at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.