Opportunities to prevent suicide among autistic people are being missed because systemic barriers make it difficult for them to access NHS support during times of mental health crisis, according to new research.
Autistic people experience poorer mental and physical health and live shorter lives than the general population. They are significantly more likely than non-autistic people to die by suicide. Recent estimates suggest that one in three autistic people has experienced suicidal ideation and nearly one in four has attempted suicide.
In a study published in Autism, researchers from the University of Cambridge and Bournemouth University found that of more than 1,000 autistic adults surveyed, only a quarter reached out to the NHS the last time they experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviours.
Among those who did not seek NHS support, the most common reasons were that they believed the NHS could not help them (48%), that they tried to cope alone (54%), or that they felt there was “no point” due to long waiting lists for mental health services (43%). Many participants commented that the NHS’s limited range of mental health services were not suitable for “people like us”.
The co-lead author, Dr Rachel Moseley from the Department of Psychology at Bournemouth University, said: “We know from other research that healthcare professionals don’t receive sufficient training to help them work effectively with autistic people. Our work shows that when faced with autistic people in crisis, clinicians often overlook these signs, or react in a way that causes further damage. For these reasons, it’s imperative that the government takes steps to address inequalities that prevent autistic people from accessing healthcare that could save their lives.”
Just over a third of participants who did not seek NHS support reported previous negative experiences with the NHS, while a similar number said they had had bad experiences specifically when seeking help for suicidality – and more than one in 10 said they had been turned away or had a referral rejected.
One in four participants said they feared consequences such as being sectioned. Others highlighted practical barriers, a third of them suggested they could not face trying to get an appointment with their GP.
This study also corroborates findings that certain gender groups may experience even greater barriers to accessing NHS support. Analysis by the team at Bournemouth and Cambridge showed that among the participants, women and those who were transgender or gender-divergent were more likely to have had negative experiences, while transgender and gender-divergent autistic people were especially likely to fear that they would not be believed by NHS staff.
Co-lead author Dr Tanya Procyshyn from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge said: “Our findings make it clear that autistic people do want support when they are struggling with suicidality, but many have been let down by a system that they experience as inaccessible, unhelpful, or even harmful. Without urgent reform to make services trustworthy and better suited to autistic people’s needs, preventable deaths will continue.”
This study offers new insights on significantly higher suicide rates among the autistic population, a stark reality recognised by the Government’s inclusion of autistic people as a priority group in the 2023 Suicide Prevention Strategy. The authors note that policy commitments must lead to meaningful service changes, such as autism-informed training for healthcare professionals, alternatives to phone-based appointment booking, and flexible, autism-adapted mental health services. They stress that these changes must be co-designed with autistic people to ensure acceptability and rebuild trust.
The research was instigated by the charity Autism Action as part of its mission to reduce the number of autistic people who think about, attempt and die by suicide.
Tom Purser, CEO of Autism Action, said: “It is unacceptable that our health service fails autistic people at the time of their greatest need. Autistic people want help but barriers in the form of inaccessible systems, poor attitudes and lack of training are preventing this, and in one in ten cases people are being turned away or rejected.
“We know a better system is possible – the Government must now lead the way to save lives.”
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. Alternatively, you can contact PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 or by texting 88247.
