TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - 'People like me don't get support': Autistic adults' experiences of support and treatment for mental health difficulties, self-injury and suicidality
JO  - Autism
A1  - Camm-Crosbie, Louise
A1  - Bradley, Louise
A1  - Shaw, Rebecca
A1  - Baron-Cohen, Simon
A1  - Cassidy, Sarah
SP  - 1431
EP  - 1441
VL  - 23
IS  - 6
N2  - 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. <br><br>FINDINGS demonstrate an urgent need for autism treatment pathways in mental health services.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1362-3613
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361318816053
ID  - ref1
ER  -