Published on 12, July, 2020
Depression is even more likely to affect those in the autism community than it affects neurotypicals and the non-disabled, because of the lifelong torture that people with autism go through on a daily basis. And people on the autism spectrum also have a high suicide risk, according to medical research and proven psychology articles. Which is why as someone with Asperger syndrome I find myself wondering if I will continue to suffer from depression and have thoughts of suicide for the rest of my life.
There was this group of ASD and Asperger Syndrome adults who had either contemplated suicide or considered doing so after being diagnosed at a clinic, because they ended up suffering from depression. I also heard about one autistic man who eventually committed suicide. I don't want to end up amongst those people - even though I won't be able to break free from my severe depression.
I live in Thurrock where the autism specific services for autistic adults are non existent apart from supported living accommodation specifically for young adults. I am 55 years of age and I have struggled with mental health issues which are undiagnosed due to the way mental health assessments are done by my GP practise where they won't adapt the assessment for the way depression appears in those with autism. The last time I received any mental health support was with a CBT therapist who had no training or experience in working with autistic people. He told me that the reason he and the other therapists had not any autism training was because there is not a call for it.
This sounds dire and i suspect the real reason is ignorance and lack of funding for autism awareness in your locality. It's fairly poor here too and I've complained both to the local autism service and the CCG. Nonetheless, awareness is growing and i thought most areas were supposed to be increasing awareness and provision. https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/referrers-professionals/strategies/autism-strategy/
Sorry to hear about the CBT therapist. Was this via the NHS? I personally have not been very impressed with the IAPT service and their one-size-fits-all approach. As far as I know CBT should be adapted in the light of an autism diagnosis. https://network.autism.org.uk/good-practice/case-studies/autism-and-cbt
Plus formulations within CBT, or indeed any counselling modality, should be individualised. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cognitive-Behavioral-Asperger-Individualized-Evidence-Based-Treatment/dp/1462537685/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=CBT+autism&qid=1555167174&s=gateway&sr=8-3
So i guess i'm saying I'm none too impressed with this "therapist".