Mental Health
Mental health and well-being is an important part of everyday life. The way we think, feel, or react can have a huge impact on our day and overall quality of life. Research has indicated that approximately 70 percent of those with Autism have at least one or more co-occurring mental health conditions (Drexel, 2016). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), states “in adults, some ASD symptoms can overlap with symptoms of other mental-health disorders, such as anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” (NIMH 2018).
Because the intersectionalities between Autism and co-occuring mental health conditions are so prevalent, it is imperative that the Autism community collaborates with health advocates, organization, and policymakers to offer more equitable mental health supports.
Additional Resources:
Social Story Dealing with Anxiety and Depression: https://autismsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Social-Narrative-Dealing-with-Anxiety-and-Depression.pdf
What is Mental Health Parity?: https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/MHParity10-23-15.pdf
Autism and the Bipolar Risk: https://sparkforautism.org/discover_article/autism-bipolar-disorder/
Masters of Masking: Men who camouflage https://www.tiimoapp.com/blog/masters-of-masking-autistic-men-who-camouflage
Healthcare Barriers Preventing Medical Treatments: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/health-care-barriers-prevent-many-autistic-people-from-seeking-medical-treatment/
Women and Autism: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-neurodiversity/202204/women-and-autism-get-diagnosis-not-gaslighted
Bias in Tracking Autism: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autisms-sex-bias-disappears-after-tracking-trajectories/