"It's okay to talk about it": Navigating Mental Health & Autism

In recent years, our society has become more informed on understanding mental health conditions, identifying the issues that associate with them, and learning how we can provide support to those who need help. However, the intersection of neurodiversity and mental health contains some unique differences. Our world is not as “fluent” in how to identify when people on the autism spectrum are experiencing a mental health crisis; nor are we able to clearly identify how to provide support that is effective while at the same time being “neurodiverse-friendly”. Research has indicated that autistic adults may have a higher risk of suicide than the rest of the population*, making it a crucial conversation topic we need to keep enforcing. In Part 1, we will address a few red flags to watch for (that especially apply for neurodiverse individuals), and we will address a few possible barriers that can prevent those who are affected with mental health conditions from getting the help they need to improve their quality of life.