Unmet support needs were thus calculated as the mismatch between the number of areas participants actually received support, compared to the number of areas participants would ideally like support…
Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults | Molecular Autism | Full Text
A majority of autistic adults (72%) scored above the recommended psychiatric cut-off for suicide risk on the SBQ-R; significantly higher than general population (GP) adults (33%). After statistically controlling for a range of demographics and diagnoses, ASC diagnosis and self-reported autistic traits in the general population significantly predicted suicidality. In autistic adults, non-suicidal self-injury, camouflaging, and number of unmet support needs significantly predicted suicidality.
Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults | Molecular Autism | Full Text
The current study therefore quantitatively explored the mismatch between the number of areas an individual would ideally like support, compared to the number of areas they actually received support. These unmet support needs significantly predicted suicidality in the ASC group when controlling for the aforementioned variables. Hence, a clear recommendation for policy and practice to reduce suicide risk in autistic adults, a high-risk group for dying by suicide, is to urgently identify and address unmet support needs in this group. Meeting this shortfall in support could, at least in part, help reduce high rates of suicidality and death by suicide in the autistic community.
Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults | Molecular Autism | Full Text
Acceptance leads to appropriate accommodations, including understanding that so called ‘challenging behaviour’ is usually a response to autistic needs not being adequately met (McDonnell et al, 2015). Furthermore, acceptance means acknowledging the responsibility on carers and healthcare providers to make adaptations, rather than expecting autistic people to adapt to an environment designed for the non-autistic majority (Haydon et al, 2021).
Healthcare settings are challenging for everyone – particularly when systems are under pressure in terms of staffing and resources. Recognising the specific, additional challenges for autistic people, and in particular the adverse consequences when these are not considered, may allow autistic people to access and tolerate difficult healthcare environments. Using the acronym ‘SPACE’, as a framework to understand and accommodate autistic needs, facilitates meeting statutory requirements, and may ultimately reduce the healthcare inequities which contribute to excess mortality in this vulnerable group.
Overall, the heterogeneity and atypicality of autistic functioning often renders irrelevant for autistic children the education provided to their peers of similar age (), an age-based level being simultaneously far below and far above autistic children’s actual needs and abilities. A respect for autistic identity and a consideration of the heterogeneous development and functioning of autistic children, both in terms of understanding each child’s needs and of the design of appropriate, potentially cross-level educational options, appears needed in order to provide them with a quality education.
