Experiences of self-harm, suicidal ideation and mental health care among autistic youth.

Seven young people were interviewed, so the themes describe their experiences and cannot show how common these experiences are among autistic youth. All were recruited from metropolitan Melbourne youth mental health services, so regional experiences may differ. All participants were able to communicate verbally during the interview and none reported intellectual disability, so experiences of non-speaking autistic youth were not represented. Four of seven participants identified as transgender or gender diverse, and gender-related discrimination or stereotypes were not analysed. Participants were excluded if clinicians judged them at high suicide risk, so findings may not reflect crisis care for those with highest risk. The study did not collect race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, so these factors cannot be considered. It did not test any intervention, so it cannot show that accommodations or adapted safety plans reduce self-harm or suicide.

The study was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence grant. One author received National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator funding and a Dame Kate Campbell Fellowship from the University of Melbourne. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Do not read these themes as evidence that any accommodation or safety plan reduces self-harm or suicide. The study interviewed seven young people about their experiences and did not test whether any clinician change improved outcomes.