The National Autistic Society and Mind are proud to launch a free good practice guide The aim of the guide is to help health professionals adapt talking therapies for autistic adults and children, alongside new research into autism and mental health. With funding from the Pears Foundation, the guide sets out how often simple adjustments and adaptations to talking therapies can make a huge difference to autistic people. These talking therapies are used widely by the NHS to treat common mental health conditions.
NAS say the guide was informed by the views of mental health professionals, over 1,500 autistic people and almost 2,000 family members. They conducted a Mental Health Survey, carried out in October and November 2020, and found:
- 94% of autistic adults experienced anxiety; almost six in ten said this affected their ability to get on with life
- almost two in three have a clinical diagnosis of anxiety
- 83% experienced depression
- eight times as many autistic people report feeling often or always lonely compared to the general population
You can read more about their research and recommendations here
© NAS