Federal government announces $70m investment after Olivia Evans dies of anorexia

Olivia was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa two years before she died. Now her heartbroken father hopes a new announcement will stop it happening to someone else.

Olivia Evans died two years after she was diganosed with an eating disorder. Picture: Supplied

Fifteen-year-old Olivia Evans lost her life this month — two years after she was diganosed with with anorexia nervosa.

She spent about 90 per cent of this time at Monash Children’s Hospital, joining the “revolving door” of admissions that skyrocketed throughout the Covid pandemic.

Her father Robb Evans told Herald Sun “her body and mind gave out”.

“Liv was the square peg and they were trying to slip her into the hole that most people fit into,” Mr Evans said.

Robb Evans said we couldn’t let another young girl die due to an eating disorder.

“We need to get some change. We can’t lose another one of these beautiful young girls.

“It seems like we’re failing them as a society, because we’re not trying hard enough to find a solution for them and just giving them the same stuff and hoping.”

To bring about change amid an alarming spike in the number of teenagers with eating disorders and mental illness, the federal government will on Monday announce a landmark $70m investment in research, treatment and support services.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the funding would go towards programs to combat the “worrying and significant deterioration” in young people’s mental health.

Improving access to care, training for GPs and headspace clinicians, as well as greater supports for patients discharged from hospitals and their families will be at the centre of a $20m investment in seven key programs.

And it could stop more teens losing their lives to eating disorders like Olivia.

“A million Australians are impacted by eating disorders and many report a lack of awareness in a health system that is difficult to navigate and offers inconsistent care,” Mr Butler said.

“We have seen a worrying and significant deterioration in the mental health of children and a rise in self-harm and eating disorders.

Olivia Evans who had an eating disorder and died aged 15. Picture: Supplied

“This funding will back innovative ways to support people with eating disorders and mental ill-health and deliver better outcomes.”

A new expert panel will also be tasked with developing a childhood mental health research plan by August.

It will recommend how $50m worth of Medical Research Future Fund grants be awarded, with the first opportunity for projects to receive cash opening in September.

Mr Evans said his daughter would have become eligible for treatment at a residential eating disorder facility when she turned 16 in August.

He is calling for greater preventive work in schools to promote positive body image, and is raising money for more adolescents in the eating disorder ward to have access to therapy dogs.

Robb Evans his daughter’s friend Katya Jaski, 16, welcome the government announcement. Picture: Tony Gough

Friend Katya Jaski, 16, said more awareness, anti-bullying programs, recovery focused treatment and residential facilities were needed across Australia.

The Brighton East teen, who was diagnosed with anorexia three years ago, met Olivia at Monash in 2021.

Ms Jaski said Olivia had “so many dreams and aspirations” but became a “shell of a person” because she was traumatised by the system, with hospital becoming a “toxic” environment where girls competed against each other and “pick up behaviours like collecting cards”.

An emotional speech from staunch campaigner and Goldstein MP, Zoe Daniel, in the federal parliament last week prompted MPs from across the aisle to declare their support for greater eating disorder action.

Ms Daniel raised the concerns about the system with her constituent, Katya Jaski, who was friends with Ms Evans.

“The fact that the system is so bad that it caused a once young passionate girl full of life to commit suicide is so sickening,” Ms Jaski had said.

The state government on Sunday announced that construction on Victoria’s first public residential eating disorder treatment centre was set to begin later this year.

The 12-bed facility, which will be located in Armadale, will provide 24/7 support for Victorians aged 18 and over when it opens in 2024.