Multi-Disciplinary Professionals Network (MDPN) Inaugural Event, April 2025
AUTISM AND MENTAL HEALTH: APPLICATION TO PRACTICE
We chose this as the topic of our first event as it is widely recognised that autistic people are vulnerable to mental health difficulties, and often have co-occurring conditions, although the reasons why are not completely clear.
“Multiple mechanisms” are likely to be involved (Carter Leno & Simonoff, 2020). Research highlights high numbers of autistic people in inpatient units and the damage this can do due to lack of appropriate support. One study found “There is no systematic approach to supporting people with autism who are admitted to in-patient psychiatric units” (Jones et al., 2021) This has been found to lead to longer stays, higher risk of segregation and the literature shows high rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation. The rates of death by suicide for autistic adolescents and adults has increased more than 30% in America since 2000.
Autistica reports that autistic people in the UK are 7 times more likely to attempt suicide than non-autistic people. The figures are well documented, as are significant cuts to NHS funding and the impact on support. Furthermore, in this time of uncertainty, economic instability and growing societal inequality, there is a rise in views that widening the diagnostic criteria has led to over-diagnosis, which could ultimately lead to even more cuts and ring fencing who is eligible for support.
Against this backdrop, we hosted our first MDPN event.
Dr Judy Eaton
Our first speaker was Dr Judy Eaton, who specialises in working with autistic girls and women. She has written a fantastic book, Autism Missed and Mis-Diagnosed, to help identify, understand and support autistic identities.
Judy highlighted many situations that continue to be serious issues that can lead catastrophic outcomes, e.g., accusing parents of autistic children of having fabricated illness disorder, lack of knowledge and understanding of autism in hospitals, inpatient units and the criminal justice system, the impact on support. It is a depressing picture, but one that we cannot ignore.
Dr Sue Smith
Our next speaker was the equally amazing Dr Sue Smith, who is the head of the Lorna Wing Centre at the National Autistic Society.
Sue is a Speech & Language Therapist, and this was very much part of her presentation, particularly when she talked about interventions. It was really interesting to hear different professional perspectives.
Lucy Sanctuary
The final speaker was me. I took my professional hat off and I talked about lived experience. To be honest, I do not often talk about our past experiences. I used to when we were drowning in all of the situations that Judy and Sue talked about. At that time, I wanted to shout as loudly as I could to try to change what was happening, not just to us but to so many neurodivergent families.
Over time, the enormity of trying to bring about change, and the personal cost, hit all of us and I stopped speaking out. I believe in sharing to help others, but it is not an easy thing to do. Anyway, I did it for the network, and I am glad I did, but I won’t be doing that again in a hurry.
We had excellent feedback for this event, and we are so excited to do more events, to give a platform to more people to share their knowledge and experience and to create a strong community.