Citation

Camm-Crosbie L, Bradley L, Shaw R, Baron-Cohen S, Cassidy S. Autism 2019; 23(6): 1431-1441.

Affiliation

5 University of Nottingham, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, National Autistic Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1362361318816053

PMID

30497279

Abstract

Autistic people are at high risk of mental health problems, self-injury and suicidality. However, no studies have explored autistic peoples' experiences of treatment and support for these difficulties. In partnership with a steering group of autistic adults, an online survey was developed to explore these individuals' experiences of treatment and support for mental health problems, self-injury and suicidality for the first time. A total of 200 autistic adults (122 females, 77 males and 1 unreported) aged 18-67 (mean = 38.9 years, standard deviation = 11.5), without co-occurring intellectual disability, completed the online survey. Thematic analysis of open-ended questions resulted in an overarching theme that individually tailored treatment and support was both beneficial and desirable, which consisted of three underlying themes: (1) difficulties in accessing treatment and support; (2) lack of understanding and knowledge of autistic people with co-occurring mental health difficulties and (3) appropriate treatment and support, or lack of, impacted autistic people's well-being and likelihood of seeing suicide as their future.

FINDINGS demonstrate an urgent need for autism treatment pathways in mental health services.

Language: en

Keywords

Autism spectrum condition; mental health; self-injury; suicide; support; treatment