‘My teacher saved my life’ versus ‘Teachers don't have a clue’: an online survey of pupils’ experiences of eating disorders

Background Eating disorders ( ED ) have a peak rate of onset in school‐aged children. Little is known about pupils’ experiences of ED within a school setting. Method Five hundred and eleven 11‐ to 19‐year‐old school pupils completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences of ED (72% female, 28% male). Responses were analysed using content analysis principles. Results Of the participants, 38% had a current or past ED , 49% of these had never received a formal diagnosis. Of the respondents, 59% saw a need to raise ED awareness. Only 7% would confide in a teacher about an ED . Conclusions Efforts are needed to break down barriers to disclosure and support teachers to play an effective role in the detection and early intervention for ED .