Reframe Voices Society is a new non-profit initiative focused on educating parents, guardians, teachers, and the 19+ communities about the early signs of disordered eating in children and youth. They offer free education, advocacy tools, and early intervention resources. Founded by a North Vancouver mom who has had her own struggles with disordered eating, Reframe Voices Society helps parents and educators better recognize and respond to eating disorders. We spoke with Founder and Executive Director Penny Greening to learn more.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Reframe Voices is a grassroots non-profit based in North Vancouver, created by parents, teachers, and youth—for parents—because eating disorders are showing up more often in today’s kids, even as early as Grade 3.
Many parents also carry their own shame around food and body image, which can make it even harder to break the cycle early.
Our programs centre on giving parents the tools to spot the warning signs and how to have honest conversations openly, which can be the difference between years of silent struggle and a child who feels seen, supported, and safe. We break down what makes eating disorders so complex, and we offer practical ways to spot concerns early, before they grow into something much harder to treat.
We’re building easy-to-understand, emotionally safe resources for parents and educators—like workshops, short videos, and school-based tools—all co-developed with youth, clinicians, and teachers.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Eating disorders are rising sharply in Canada, affecting children at increasingly younger ages across all body types and identities. Harmful beliefs about food and body image are often passed down through generations, compounded by the pressures of puberty and social media to present a flawless image. Many kids learn to mask their distress, making early signs difficult for parents and teachers to spot, especially for neurodivergent children or those who are highly self-critical, traits often linked with eating disorders.
Reframe Voices was created to empower parents and educators to recognize early warning signs and provide timely support, helping more children get the help they need before struggles become chronic or debilitating.
When did you start/join it?
I formalized Reframe Voices just a few weeks ago, in May, driven by deep concern over how widespread eating disorders have become among teens today. As both an adolescent and an adult, I have personally experienced this kind of “brain pain,” a term I use to help adults understand mental health as part of physical health. Now that my daughter is about to graduate high school, I’m willing to be vulnerable about my own lived experience and invite other parents to truly see how damaging eating disorders can be if we don’t bravely try to understand. As a professional storyteller in creative communications—and a deeply empathetic person, which I now attribute to my own late-diagnosed neurodivergence—I realized I’m uniquely positioned to fill this critical gap in early education and awareness.
What made you want to get involved?
I have personal experience with childhood eating disorders that resurfaced during stressful periods in my adult life. Like many, I kept it quiet—disguised it as “healthy” behaviour and carried a heavy burden of shame. Sadly, not everyone survives this struggle, like my stepsister, who battled bulimia from her teens until we lost her at 33.
Now, as the parent of a teen, I’m seeing similar patterns in today’s youth. After doing my homework—looking closely at eating disorder organizations across Canada, including here in BC—it became clear that even the major players agree: there’s a critical gap in resources to help educate parents and guardians.
I’m passionate about breaking the generational cycle of shame around food, body image, and mental health. I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer. I’ve seen too much. I had to act.
What was the situation like when you started?
We’re in what many paediatricians are calling a “silent epidemic.” And silence, when it comes to eating disorders, can be deadly. The youth I’ve spoken with want adults to pay attention, to really listen to what they’re facing. But eating disorders are complex, and even they don’t always have the words.
While there are resources available, they’re not always top-of-mind for the people who need them most. Information often feels too clinical, or it doesn’t surface until after a diagnosis. And although adult influencers are (rightfully) cautious about how they speak about eating disorders, few are speaking directly to parents, who are often the first line of defence.
This silence is costing us. Eating disorders may not always be preventable, but we can catch them earlier. We can respond better. And we must talk about them more openly.
How has it changed since?
I’m still in the early stages, but momentum is growing quickly. Reframe Voices is gaining recognition as a much-needed initiative focused on early, accessible, and emotionally safe education around eating disorders. Parents, educators—even healthcare professionals—are already reaching out for tools and support. This fall, we’ll begin piloting parent workshops with local school districts and expanding our YouTube series with youth-informed content designed to spark more open, informed conversations at home and in the classroom. Once I have volunteer Community Amplifiers in place, we’ll expand our reach beyond the Lower Mainland.
What more needs to be done?
To better support young people, we need stronger coordination between schools, families, and health systems focused on early detection and intervention. There is a broad spectrum of disordered eating behaviours that can lead to full eating disorders if left unaddressed. Dedicated funding is essential—not just for treatment but for education and awareness initiatives that reach families and communities. Above all, we must normalize conversations about eating disorders so they’re no longer cloaked in fear or shame. Early education can disrupt stigma before it takes root, empowering kids and parents alike to seek help sooner and reduce long-term harm.
How can our readers help?
If you are in a financial situation to give, we encourage you to consider donating to our 👉 GoFundMe —even small gifts help us keep this grassroots work alive.
And please follow us, share our videos, and if you’re a parent of a school-aged child, talk to your school or Parent Advisory Council about our work. We’re currently fundraising to bring our workshops to 100 schools and 50 parent associations across BC. Every donation helps us reach more communities with free, youth-informed mental health resources.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | YouTube | Website | GoFundMe: throughout the summer
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
NIED — the National Initiative for Eating Disorders — leads important advocacy and caregiver support across Canada (because someone has to care for the person who is in treatment, and that responsibility can take them out of work). Locally, Looking Glass Foundation plays a vital role in BC by providing peer support and subsidised counselling for youth navigating eating disorders.
