Objective: This study explored treatment experiences and social support among individuals with eating disorders (EDs) in mainland China.Method: Subscribers of a Chinese online social media platform (WeChat) focused on EDs were invited to complete a screening questionnaire that included the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale for the DSM-5. Of the 116 questionnaire responses, 31 met inclusion criteria for follow-up interviews. Individuals who never sought treatment were not eligible for follow-up interviews, but provided brief explanations about why they did not seek treatment. All eligible participants (n = 31) completed a semistructured interview about their experiences with ED treatment and social support.Qualitative data from the interviews and survey responses regarding not seeking treatment were subjected to inductive data-driven thematic analysis with deductive coding to illuminate treatment and social support experiences or reasons for not seeking treatment.Results: Themes emerged from interviews revealed positive inpatient treatment experiences for anorexia nervosa, but negative outpatient treatment experiences, unaffordable care, and ineffective psychopharmacological treatments. Parents, friends, and partners were sources of social support, but participants largely felt misunderstood or blamed by these same entities. Shame, not recognizing ED as an illness, and financial constraints were listed as the primary reasons for not seeking treatment.Discussion: The importance of hearing patients' perspectives, improving ED literacy in China, increasing knowledge of culturally specific manifestations of EDs, and developing culturally responsive services and dissemination of treatment resources are emphasized.

Frontline health providers who worked in Hubei, China, during the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) experienced poorer mental health outcomes than those who worked elsewhere in China, but many of these workers denied psychological challenges and did not use resources when offered. This study investigated challenges, mental health, sources of strength, and coping strategies among frontline healthcare professionals working in the initial Hubei COVID-19 outbreak. Healthcare workers (N = 23) who went to Hubei during the COVID-19 outbreak completed a semistructured interview about their experiences at the front line and use of mental health resources. Thematic analysis revealed several challenges participants faced as a result of their work conditions. The vast majority of participants reported physical and psychological symptoms. Nevertheless, some denied experiencing any distress, and none accessed psychological assistance as a way of self-care. Participants described their social network as particularly helpful as they were coping with the intensive work demands and that their strong sense of responsibility for patients and trust in the medical system were sources of strength. Our findings highlight that even in the face of stress-related challenges, healthcare workers may not seek care for their physical and psychological symptoms, which may lead to persistent mental health consequences. Implications for providing mental health services to healthcare providers and first responders are discussed in the Chinese cultural and societal context; we offer considerations for bridging health resources in China with the potential for establishing a more responsive and equitable mental health infrastructure.