Autism and Mental Health
The United Nations World Autism Awareness Day will be on the 2nd of April. The day is to increase awareness of those of us on the autism spectrum. (1) World Autism Awareness Day - Wikipedia
The National Autistic Society describes autism as a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autism is on a spectrum, and just like everyone else, 'once you have met one autistic person, you have just met one autistic person.' However, the National Autistic Society go on to explain that autistic people share common differences to other non-autistic people in how we think, feel, and communicate. (2) What is autism
Navigating a non-autistic world can be a challenge for many autistic people, this will last throughout the lifetime. Spending time in an uncomfortable environment, where the sense of control is removed, such as being in an education setting or at work, can become stressful. Spending time with family, friends and loved ones can drain the social energy battery, where one may shut down and feel the sense to escape. It is common for autistic people to have sensory difficulties, such as to certain noises, light, certain tastes, and the touch of certain textures. Some of us may seek out such stimuli which help sooth us. Trying to fit into everyday social interactions can bring us extra anxiety.
The organisation Beyond Autism highlights that 70-80% of autistic children and adults will experience mental health problems within their lifetime. (3) Autism and mental health - BeyondAutism.
Due to the challenges that an autistic person faces in living day to day, they may need support for anxiety and depression. There is a possibility that obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may go unnoticed as many autistic people will have repeated behaviours.
Here at Wellbeing Suffolk, we have invested and continue to invest in how we as a whole Service can better support those people who are on the autism spectrum, as well as those people who are at the start of their autism journey. All my colleagues, the administration team, our community team and the clinicians are fully aware of any reasonable adjustments that someone may need to help them with their treatment. In addition, we also have a Greenlight Team, who continue to make improvements for those people who are autistic, as well as those people with a learning disability.
As a Peer Mentor within Wellbeing Suffolk and as part of my role as a Greenlight Champion I have produced with my colleagues a booklet called Autism and Mental Health.
I produced this booklet to help support other autistic people by sharing a bit about my autism journey and how I manage my wellbeing every day. Tips such as the Five Ways to Wellbeing, planning and reflection. I hope you may find this booklet insightful.
Visit our reasonable adjustments page on our website to read the booklet and find out more about reasonable adjustments: Reasonable Adjustments - Wellbeing Suffolk
