Mental health support is far more readily available than it used to be in the past, and that includes support services for people with autism.
We think this is a terribly encouraging thing because it means that if you or a loved one with autism need mental health support, there are a number of options available to you and your loved one, and there’s no need to suffer in isolation as you try to make your way through it alone.
Help is available; you just need to know where to look.
We’ve put together a list of places you can go for mental health support for autistic adults.
First up is the National Health Service. The NHS has a variety of services that you can access for your loved one with autism if they are in need of mental health support, chief of which include the NHS Talking Therapy services that they offer and Community Mental Health Teams.
The NHS offers a variety of talking therapy services that can be a significant source of help for people with mental health needs.
Talking therapies can be accessed by self-referral (without talking to a GP) in England if you or your loved one is over 18 and registered with a GP.
Alternatively, you can speak to your GP who will be able to give you advice and refer you or a loved one to an NHS talking therapy programme.
Community Mental Health Teams are another part of the NHS’s attempts to meet people where they are and provide them with the mental health support they need.
The Community Mental Health Teams have several professionals, from psychiatrists to social workers and occupational therapists, working together to meet community needs.
You can get access to these Community Mental Health Teams by speaking to your GP, who will then point you in the right direction.
If the situation is a crisis, you can get access to a crisis resolution and home treatment team (CRHT) either through calling 999, going to A&E or contacting NHS 111 by dialling 111.
There are several autism and mental health organisations who can offer support to people with autism.
The National Autistic Society do a lot of amazing work related to autism, and while they do not offer crisis or emergency services, they have a very useful Autism Services Directory that you can use to find an appropriate professional.
They recommend that you speak to your GP if you need urgent care, or that you contact a helpline like the Mind Infoline or Samaritans (we’ll mention them later).
Mind is the largest mental health charity in England and Wale. They are dedicated to ensuring that everyone – including people with autism – gets the support they need to deal with the mental health problem they are experiencing.
Mind has both resources and guides that can help you get help for mental health, either for you or a loved one.
They also have an online peer support platform called Side by Side, a mental health helpline and guides to help you get emergency help for mental health.
Private specialist health service providers like psychiatrists can provide excellent support for people with autism.
It’s best to get advice from your GP if you’re needing a specialist, or you can go find a service provider from the National Autistic Society’s Autism Services Directory.
Home care UK providers like Mega Nursing and Care have care givers who are specially trained to provide support and care to a person with autism in the comfort of their own homes.
They can provide medication support, assistance with daily tasks, help your loved one get to appointments and provide important social support.
When it comes to mental health, though, they can play an important role in monitoring the mental health of the person they’re caring for and step in to provide interventions or recommend a mental health specialist when needed.
Apart from that, however, they can provide respite care for people caring for loved ones with autism, which is an important service, particularly since carer burnout is always a major risk factor for unpaid carers.
Samaritans is a suicide prevention charity, though you don’t have to feel suicidal to call their helpline. They are primarily powered by trained volunteers and are available around the clock, every day of the year. You can call 116 123 to get access to the Samaritans helpline or chat with them online. They also offer face-to-face visits at some of their branches.
SANEline is an out-of-hours mental health helpline that provides help for anyone affected by mental illness.
They are usually open from 4pm to 10pm and can provide crisis support.
They can be accessed on 0300 304 7000
The National Suicide Prevention Helpline provides support to anyone struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide.
They have a helpline that can be called (0800 587 0800) and have face-to-face community teams.
The Campaign Against Living Miserably is another UK charity that is dedicated to preventing suicide. They have guides, tools and how-tos, as well as a services directory and a helpline that is operated by professionals.
As we said, them important thing to know is that there is help available, both for adults with autism and their loved ones. Mental health problems can affect anyone and it’s important to know that help is around.
Generally, it’s a good idea to contact a healthcare provider (like your GP) that you have an existing relationship with first, but failing that, the NHS helpline and autism organisations like the National Autism Society can provide excellent direction to help an autistic loved one who needs mental health support.
The 6-second rule is a simple communication trick that helps facilitate effective communication with a person with autism.
People with autism sometimes need extra time for processing information in conversations which neurotypical people can find uncomfortable because of the silences it can cause in conversations. These silences can lead to the neurotypical conversation partner filling the silence or prompting the autistic person for a response. This can cause frustration for both parties and lead to poor communication and a breakdown of trust.
Basically, after saying something to an autistic person (especially if it’s a question), you should wait for 6 seconds to create the moments they need to process the information and formulate their response. Giving them that time lowers their stress in the conversation and ensures that you get to hear what they truly have to say.
There are many places to which a person with autism (or a person with a loved one with autism) can turn:
Care services like Mega Nursing &Care
The NHS
Your GP and private medical specialists
It’s important to note that there is no single cause of autism. It’s a complex condition, and factors including a person’s environment can have a role in causing autism. However, some studies suggest that up to 90% of autism risk can be linked to inherited genetic factors.
Yes! We have specially trained caregivers who have experience in providing care to people with autism. Our care services for autism can be offered to young people.
We can offer care support in Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.
We're here to support you every step of the way. Whether you have questions about our services or need assistance in finding the right care for your loved one, our compassionate team is ready to help.
We understand that this journey can be challenging and we're committed to providing you with the information and support you need.
