Published on 12, July, 2020
I have been running a small group of academics for suicide prevention in autism for a few months now and I feel we may get something useful. Included in the group are Prof Simon Baron Cohen and Sara Cassidy. We share ideas , but I seem to be coming up with the major ones.
there’s a group of autistic people which has met to discuss this and concluded we are never taken seriously, drugs are pretty useless, psychiatrists response is poor and inappropriate.
I have been trying for funding and help to have an autistic arm to the Stay Alive app. The app seems well researched and well supported
We could include a Database studying online suicidal ideation in Autism as well as specific routes of advice.
my big idea is to have an Alexa type artificial intelligence system to offer an online reply consultation with the computer. No humans involved as I have found Samaritans etc, kind but always avoid advice.
This system could give research based advice as my experience of mental health services are thats they are terrible with suicidal ideation in autism
what do you think?
I think the concept sounds great but there is one major negative I see. The fact that an app is answering suicidal queries instead of a person would make me feel desperate and even more alone. When in that state of mind, I need human connection as that is the underlying part of suicidal ideation for me - no one cares. Having AI answer me would enhance this feeling. I find apps hard to use when I am in that mindset too. Phoning a helpline helps me more. Samaritans have been invaluable for me just by being human.
But I have found the human connection restricts themselves to medicine or listening or psychotherapy and I never had a good overview. It was legal help I needed