"People like me don't get support": autistic adults' experiences of support and treatment for mental health difficulties, self-injury and suicidality

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. Two hundred autistic adults (122 females, 77 males, 1 unreported) aged 18 to 67 (M = 38.9 years, SD = 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: a) difficulties in accessing treatment and support; b) lack of understanding and knowledge of autistic people with co-occurring mental health difficulties; and c) appropriate treatment and support, or lack of, impacted autistic people’s wellbeing and likelihood of seeing suicide as their future. Findings demonstrate an urgent need for autism treatment pathways in mental health services