SENIOR PROJECT OVERVIEW

DIRECTIONS: Explain each area in 35 to 50 words.

Name: Abigail Rose Mills

Title of Project: Perpetual Jealousy

Title of Research Paper:

Right to Life, Liberty, and Insurance Coverage: Eating Disorder Treatment

Synopsis of Research Paper:

This paper addresses the discrepancy between effective treatment to combat and even prevent
eating disorders and the insurance coverage often provided for such mental illnesses, especially
those who need residential treatment (24 hour monitoring) to ensure their survival. A multitude
of states and countries are analyzed in regards to Mental Health Parity, insurance, and pending
legislation laws. The stigma embedded within US Legislation will be identified and discussed, as
well as the impending legislation itself. While a legal paper, societal implications and causes of
eating disorders will be illustrated to promote proper knowledge of the issue at hand. Statutory
and case law are a key in finding harmony between what laws and insurance grants, and what is
medically necessary to prevent this illness from turning fatal in many patients. Anna Westins
Law and Mental Health Parity Laws specifically are addressed in full detail, as well as the
comparative law in regards to French model Policies.

Project Description:
My project was an attempt at alleviating societal pressures through poetry. It covered the two main
aspects of eating disorder recovery as well. The first being the physical recovery, where I baked and
discussed food with my audience there. The second, and much harder, aspect of treatment is emotional
recovery, what my poetry attempted to advocate for.

Relationship between Project and Paper:

In my Paper, I concluded that the main factor in preventing proper treatment and recovery of eating
disorder patients was the stigma involved. It has been researched and concluded that insurance can save a
copious amount of money (stats in my panel) if covering therapy and outpatient treatments, instead of
waiting (to deny) coverage for inpatient. Thus, stigma within society and government need to be
alleviated to help eating disorder patients with treatment. My project attempted to alleviate
aforementioned stigma through my poetry anthology (touching on taboo topics of mental health). Also,
the book selling party educated the public by telling them about NEDA and the pertinence of treating the
eating disorder epidemic.

My background experience in the area:

In middle school, I had bulimia throughout the three years. Two years ago I was diagnosed with EDNOS.
This year I was diagnosed with ARFID, then anorexia. What I want most out of this project is to make
sure my struggles arent in vain- I want to make sure no other girl (or boy) have to tell their mom they
have been making themselves sick for three years. As for poetry, I have been writing unofficially since the
start of high school, and this project was the start of compiling my poetry and seeing it on a large scale.

Special things Id like judges to consider and look for:

This topic has been especially personal for me because of my medical history this year. While some may
consider this an overdone topic, I believe here lies the issue. This misunderstood biologically based
mental illness can often deter others from getting help (including me, until my mom forced me to go to
the doctors). Since this is so personal, I ask for you to open your heart and embark upon this journey of
poetry with me. Poetry literally saved my life this year and I hope you can find my passions so heavily
embedded in my words. Thank you for your time.