Urgent advice-Medication for my 11 year old, please help!

Dear Worriedmumlpl,  

Thank you for posting and tell the community what you are going through. We are sorry to hear what your son is going through a difficult time.

The National Autistic Society does not currently operate a crisis or emergency service. We advise you to contact 999 or any of the mental health crisis lines listed on our Urgent Help Page if your son is at risk of immediate harm: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/urgent-help  

If your son is not at immediate risk of harm, we would encourage you to speak to your GP or another health professional about this if you haven’t done so already. If it’s outside your GP hours call 111 to reach the NHS 111 service. In in England, Wales and Scotland there is now an option to speak with mental health professionals by selecting ‘option 2’ when calling NHS 111: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/  

You may find it useful to look at the following resources:  

• anxiety https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/anxiety   
• OCD https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/ocd  
• Extra help at school https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/education/extra-help-at-school    

You may be interested in seeking some professional support regarding the behaviour. You can search for professionals in your area we are aware of on the Autism Services Directory: https://www.autism.org.uk/directory

This guide produced by NAS may be of interest. It collates suggestions on ways professionals can make mental health talking therapies better for autistic people.   

Content note- the guide contains sections on suicide and self-harm: Good practice guide for professionals delivering therapy  

We hope this is helpful to you.  

Kind regards  

Rosie Mod  

Dear Worriedmumlpl,  

Thank you for posting and tell the community what you are going through. We are sorry to hear what your son is going through a difficult time.

The National Autistic Society does not currently operate a crisis or emergency service. We advise you to contact 999 or any of the mental health crisis lines listed on our Urgent Help Page if your son is at risk of immediate harm: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/help-and-support/urgent-help  

If your son is not at immediate risk of harm, we would encourage you to speak to your GP or another health professional about this if you haven’t done so already. If it’s outside your GP hours call 111 to reach the NHS 111 service. In in England, Wales and Scotland there is now an option to speak with mental health professionals by selecting ‘option 2’ when calling NHS 111: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/  

You may find it useful to look at the following resources:  

• anxiety https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/anxiety   
• OCD https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/ocd  
• Extra help at school https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/education/extra-help-at-school    

You may be interested in seeking some professional support regarding the behaviour. You can search for professionals in your area we are aware of on the Autism Services Directory: https://www.autism.org.uk/directory

This guide produced by NAS may be of interest. It collates suggestions on ways professionals can make mental health talking therapies better for autistic people.   

Content note- the guide contains sections on suicide and self-harm: Good practice guide for professionals delivering therapy  

We hope this is helpful to you.  

Kind regards  

Rosie Mod  

Hi thanks for the signposting that’s really helpful however I was looking for other parents to reach out to me who’s children were on the alternative medication to what my child is being offered to give me some real life experience of what helps. If this isn’t the purpose of these forums then I apologise and will leave the forum. I just wanted to engage with other parents for advice in real life situations as I’m well engaged with all the services you mentioned and they cannot help as not permitted to advise families on these issues.