OUR STORY

The story of The Secret Burden began on Mother’s Day in 2016 when co-founder Kendall Walters went to Facebook to document her 14-year-old daughter’s admission into hospital for Anorexia Nervosa, calling her Anorexia diagnosis;

“The Secret Burden”.

Kendall and her husband Andrew had tried everything they could to help their daughter Ashlee recover from Anorexia. After 22 weeks of limited professional help at home, Kendall and Andrew had no choice but to admit Ashlee into a children’s mental health ward in Brisbane, where her recovery journey began.

In 2018, Ashlee started to share her side of the story, becoming an educated voice, nationally and internationally, in the eating disorder and body image space.

In sharing their lived experience, Ashlee and Kendall saw a need for change and founded The Secret Burden Charity in 2022.

They have since made appearances on 60 Minutes Australia, CNN, The Today Show, Nexus News International, CBS12 News America and Season 3 of the Channel Nine Television Series, Parental Guidance.

OUR HOPE FOR CHANGE!

We have been you and walked a mile in shoes just like yours, part of the 70 million people worldwide living with an eating disorder, but we have come out the other side. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.

We’re on a mission to make a change to those numbers and the lives of those affected by eating disorders. Supporting families by sharing our lived experience and connecting you with the professional support you need.

OUR VALUES

Hope

Community

Support Groups

The Secret Burden’s Support Groups are an opportunity for families, individuals and carers to feel heard, seen and supported through their own or their loved one’s eating disorder or mental health condition. Each support group is run by a lived experience carer or individual who opens the conversation for support, challenges, fears and or confusion. The groups are a safe space for individuals or carers to feel less alone and supported by people who have or are living it.

Support

Family + Individual Lived Experience Mentoring

The Secret Burden provides one-on-one lived experience mentoring and support to families and individuals currently experiencing eating disorders, body image issues, poor mental health or adverse challenges that cause them the pursuit of unhelpful behaviours. Whether it be weekly check-ins, walks on the beach, phone calls, hospital or family visits, The Secret Burden provides the family or individuals with what they require and where they can get professional help and or resources to support their recovery to good mental and physical health.

Trust

UP SKILL ED Events

UP SKILL ED Events are The Secret Burden’s information sessions driving awareness and education about the challenges of eating disorders. Each event airs The Secret Burden’s educational short film on eating disorders, supported by a live QNA with a lived experience panel, where parents, carers, guardians, friends or community members can ask questions, feel supported and learn more about eating disorders in a safe environment.

Courage

The Secret Sunday Session Podcast

The Secret Sunday Session podcast is The Secret Burden’s free information and educational resource to the wider community based on lived experience storytelling. The podcast is hosted by co-founder and media presenter Ashlee Thomas. Each episode sees a new guest come on to share their stories of triumph, adversity and resilience, highlighting the power of storytelling to inspire, empower and educate.

Integrity

Wellbeing House

The Wellbeing House is The Secret Burden’s long term project, a goal from the beginning to build a wellbeing hub for individuals and families to have a safe space to feel supported, seen, heard and well-equipped to walk away with all the necessary resources, support and information to overcome the challenges they may be facing. The Wellbeing House will be a one-stop-shop for medical support, lived experience guidance, training and information for carers, positive and preventative programs for individuals, and a house built on belief, hope and courage. Designed for those who don’t know who, where or how to access the professional or personal help they may require.