Thursday, 25 July 2019
In the hope of answering an ‘urgent need’ for tailored assessment and treatment pathways in mental health services for autistic people, a team of experts at the University of Nottingham are calling for adults (18+ years) to help with an online study.
Our research has found that there are currently no tools available to assess depression,suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours in autistic people. This means that service providers are not able to appropriately assess depression or suicidality in autistic adults, making it difficult for autistic people with these difficulties to access treatment and support.
In partnership with the autistic community, the team has adapted two widely used measures of depression, and suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours to make the questions more clear and relevant for autistic people. They want to find out how well the adapted tools work for autistic adults, and if these new tools are also useful for non-autistic adults too.
Dr Cassidy said: “We are asking both autistic people and non-autistic adults to complete these adapted measures. This will help us learn if our new measures work for autistic and non-autistic people.”
Earlier this year a team from the University of Nottingham, Coventry University and the University of Cambridge, led by Dr Cassidy, published research - ‘People like me don’t get support’: Autistic adults’ experiences of support and treatment for mental health difficulties, self-injury and suicidality.
Working with a steering group of autistic adults their findings demonstrated an urgent need for autism pathways in mental health services. It was the first study of its kind to explore autistic adults experiences of treatment and support for these difficulties.
Now they are looking for adults aged 18 years and over, to take part in a private online survey. You can take part if you are autistic, suspect you are autistic (but not yet diagnosed), or if you are not autistic. The team needs a wide variety of people to take part. You can take part if you have or have not experienced of mental health problems, self-injury or thoughts of ending life, to take part.
The research project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council(ESRC).
For more information about the study or to take part, please follow this link: tinyurl.com/y3w2jmy2
If you have any questions about the research, please contact Dr Sarah Cassidy and her team by email: lp-mhautism@nottingham.ac.uk
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Sarah Cassidy, in the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham, on +44 (0) 115 9513470 lp-mhautism@nottingham.ac.uk or Lindsay Brooke or Jane Icke, Media Relations Managers for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham, on +44 (0)115 951 5751, lindsay.brooke@nottingham.ac.ukor jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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