Monday, 14 September 2020
Researchers are inviting partner organisations and charities to work with them to help shape and progress a study to develop new ways of reducing self-harm and suicide in autistic adults.
The collaborative research is being led by the University of Nottingham and Newcastle University to look at how Suicide Safety Plans can be adapted to be more effective for adults diagnosed with autism.
Suicide is much more common in adults who have a diagnosis of autism, with autistic people around nine times more likely to die by suicide than non-autistic people. Evidence shows that 66% of autistic adults have considered suicide, this is much higher than the UK general population where the rate is about 17%.
Dr Sarah Cassidy
Dr Sarah Cassidy is leading the research site at the University of Nottingham, she says: “Safety plans are a simple, brief, personalised intervention to prevent self-harm and suicide in the general population. Autistic adults have told us that suicide safety plans could be very useful to them, and suggested ways to adapt the plans so they are clearer and more relevant to their needs.
We are delighted that NIHR have provided funding to allow us to continue to work with autistic adults and those who support them, to further develop and test how useful these adapted suicide safety plans are to autistic adults. We have a number of mental health, wellbeing and autism related support services and charities on board to help us with this work and we welcome enquiries from other organisations that would like to get involved.”
Safety plans are a tool used to support and guide someone when they are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, to help keep themselves safe. Anyone in a trusting relationship with the person at risk can help draft the plan; they do not need to be a professional.
Safety plans typically include information such as personal warning signs that the person might be approaching crisis, personal coping strategies to provide distraction from thoughts of self-harm or suicide, contact information for friends, family and professionals to provide support, and making the environment safe.
Although autistic people are at increased risk of self-harm and suicide, no research has yet explored the development of suicide prevention strategies adapted to their unique needs. Research into other types of mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression indicates that autistic people require adaptations to be made to standard treatments to make them accessible and meaningful.
You can find out more about the work at the Safety Plan Study website and contact the team to get involved by emailing the research team at the University of Nottingham.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Sarah Cassidy on sarah.cassidy@nottingham.ac.uk or Jane Icke, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham, on +44 (0)115 951 5751 or 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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