FREEDcan: an integrated early intervention for eating disorders care model for community and primary care settings in...

Early intervention for eating disorders (EDs) models and services is not formalized in Canada, despite increasing demand for care and well-established clinical, social, and economic benefits of intervening early.

FREEDcan (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders-Canada) introduces a community-based model to improve early identification, initial response, and access to evidence-based interventions for young people aged 8-25 years with early-stage EDs.

FREEDcan was co-adapted from the United Kingdom's evidence-based FREED model for the Canadian context with a multi-partner advisory group of clinicians, community organizations, youth and family advisors, researchers, and an implementation science team. It has three pillars: early identification, initial response, and evidence-based interventions for early-stage EDs. Implementation is supported by intersectoral partnerships, community-driven adaptation, and integrated workforce expansion to build capacity and facilitate sustainable, integrated early intervention.

From a service perspective, FREEDcan aims to improve early detection of EDs, reduce duration of untreated illness through rapid, low-barrier responses, and increase access to stage-appropriate interventions. Additional implementation-based outcomes are anticipated, including evidence for core components, costs, and adaptations relevant to scaling this model in diverse regions across Canada.

FREEDcan has the potential to provide an accessible, youth-centered, developmentally appropriate approach to early ED care within a collaborative, community-driven, integrated care framework. Using a learning health systems approach, it strives for continuous evaluation to support real-time learning, opportunities for model improvement, and evidence-generation for a new integrated model of care for early-stage ED care for young people in Canada.