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The ‘great divide’ between disability and mental health Autistic people have unique challenges when it comes to their mental and there is a critical need for more professional training according to La Trobe University researcher, Dr Darren Hedley. He spoke to Kymberly Martin.
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here is a “great divide” between disability and mental health and wellbeing services when it comes to autistic adults, Suicide Prevention Australia research fellow and La Trobe University senior researcher Dr Darren Hedley said. “The rates of suicide among autistic and the LGBTIQA+ communities is higher than in the general population, making these communities priority groups for suicide prevention,” he told Link. Globally we have estimated approximately 12,500 (possible range 5,000-24,500) autistic people lost their lives to suicide in 2019 and the risk seems to be higher in autistic females. “Along with Dr Damian Santomauro from the University of Queensland, we examined Global Burden of Disease data finding as much as a seven-fold increased risk of death by suicide in autistic people compared to the general population,” Dr Hedley said. And while there is no reliable data available on the suicide rates of autistic people in Australia, the researchers expect the numbers to be similar here.,” he said. “At the public health level, Australia is behind many other countries when
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it comes to improving knowledge and awareness of mental health, as well as suicide risk among the autistic population. We know that people with autism have gone to mental health services and been turned away or told to seek help from disability support,” he said. “The NDIS is a grey area and although it is possible to get some psychological services through the scheme people tend to get directed back to mental health clinics for support. There needs to be collaboration between mental health and disability services. Importantly, the mental health sector needs to see the mental health of people with disabilities, including autism, as core business.” A world-first website Dr Hedley and his colleagues from La Trobe University recently launched a world-first website with animated videos, information and tools on how to respond to suicide risk in others. The 12-step Suicide Response Project (www.suicideresponseproject.com) is freely accessible and was designed with, and can be used by people with autism, ADHD and intellectual disability. Next, the team plans to develop a professional portal for professionals working in the mental health sector, so that they may become more confident in working with autistic people who have mental health concerns. According to Dr Hedley, autistic communities have unique challenges when it comes to their mental health, often from lack of understanding, prejudice or bullying. He said very few professionals understand these challenges, and there is a critical need for more professional training. This also makes knowledgeable and supportive family and friends more critical in their
lives and the suicideresponseproject. com is aimed at giving these people the tools and skills to know what to do if someone is expressing suicidal thoughts or behaviour, or where there is some concern for their wellbeing. “The new website will help people better identify the warning signs and give them confidence to intervene in a safe and supportive way.” The website was launched at a recent Australasian Society for Autism research (ASfAR) Mental Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention in Autism conference, a world’s first conferment that focused specifically on autism and suicide prevention. The resources were designed by people with autism LGBTIGA+ people and their families as well as by people with lived experience of past suicidal behaviours. The website has 12 modules with different topics relating to suicide from identifying signs of psychological distress to how to make a plan to support someone who is at risk of suicide. The website also has downloadable fact sheets. Dr Hedley and colleagues have also developed two instruments for screening people with autism to help identity those who may be suicidal, comprising a screening tool and a clinical interview. These tools, similar to what is already being used in drug and alcohol sectors, is currently undergoing peer review and will become available for use in 2022. Professional organisations that are interested in participating in a trial of the tools can contact Dr Hedley by email at d.hedley@latrobe.edu.au
