Project MH51

Mental Health Outcomes and Autism: Mental health conditions, trauma, and suicide-related behaviours in autistic people

This project explores how trauma affects autistic people’s mental health and risk of suicide. We will also investigate the types of mental health support offered to autistic people, whether autistic people engage with the mental health support, and if their support is timely compared to other non-autistic people. Finally, we will identify at what stage mental health is diagnosed.

Background 

Mental health conditions are common among autistic people. About 70% of autistic children and between 50 and 80 percent of autistic adults have a diagnosed mental health condition (DeFilippis., 2018; Simonoff et al., 2008; Lever et al., 2016). Autistic people are more likely to experience trauma, and these traumatic experiences negatively impact autistic people’s mental health (Taylor et al., 2016; Griffiths et al., 2019). Trauma also increases the risk of self-harm and suicide attempts among autistic children (Mandell et al., 2005). One out of every four autistic adult has attempted suicide, which is much higher than the approximate one out of every 15 people in the UK general population (Newell et al., 2023). Although autistic people are at a higher risk of dying by suicide and experiencing mental health conditions than others, autistic people still have barriers to mental health support. This project is the first to explore how traumatic experiences impact autistic people’s risk of suicide and mental health conditions. Additionally, it will provide the first quantitative UK statistics on equity of access to mental health services and service provision of autistic people.

Project Aims

The aims of this project are to:

  • Explore how traumatic experiences are associated with poor mental health and risk of suicide in autistic people.
  • Evaluate the equity of the mental health support available for autistic people.
  • Understand autistic people’s diagnosis of mental health conditions.

Project Activity

This project is quantitative and consists of 4 studies:

  • Study 1: Traumatic experiences and their relationship to suicide attempts, suicide plans, and self-harm among autistic adults
  • Study 2: Traumatic experiences and their relationship to suicide attempts, suicide plans, and self-harm among autistic children
  • Study 3: Mental health services for autistic people
  • Study 4: Mental health in autistic people

Data for the first two studies were collected through a self-report and parent-report surveys (the Vulnerability Experiences Quotient [VEQ]) developed through stakeholder consultations. 

The third study will utilise anonymized NHS records from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT). 

Finally, the fourth study will use anonymized, nationally representative NHS records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to explore whether anxiety and depression are diagnosed prior to, during, or after autism diagnosis.

Community engagement will be incorporated into all the four studies through surveys and focus group discussions.

Anticipated or actual outputs 

Outputs will include:

  • Publication of findings in peer-reviewed journal articles.
  • Presentations at conferences, seminars, and meetings.

The research findings may help to provide better mental health support to autistic people on a national and international level, including recommendations for reducing risk of suicide. We hope that it will provide an evidence base for the importance of providing trauma-informed mental healthcare tailored to autistic people’s needs, as well as training programmes for health professionals to raise awareness about autism, trauma, and mental health conditions.

Papers/resources associated with this project

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aur.2162

Who is involved?

PIs: Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and Dr Elizabeth Weir (Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)

Researchers:

  • Tanatswa Chikaura (Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)
  • Dr Sarah Griffiths (Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London)
  • Professor Tamsin Ford (Child and Adolescent Resilience and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)
  • Dr Simon White (Child and Adolescent Resilience and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)
  • Dr Carrie Allison (Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)
  • Dr Mirabel Pelton (Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)
  • Dr Tanya Procyshyn (Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)

Contact

 

MH51