Time to Get Serious - Aspergers and Depression/Suicide Risk

It's time to talk about something that is still a Stigma even in the 21st Century. When it comes to Aspergers Syndrome the Stigma can be ten times worse.

Between the years of 2004 and 2011, 118 women were diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome in the UK. This is a tiny amount of women being diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, but within that 118 women a proportion also reported in a survey conducted by Psych Central that they experience Suicidal Thoughts and Depression. 

This statistic is made even more worrying and food for thought with more and more Disabled Men and Women committing suicide in the UK due to Benefit Cuts and cuts to vital Services that help and support them in their daily lives. 

As someone who was diagnosed late with Aspergers Syndrome (I was 16 years old), looking back I am apart of that statistic where I would think about committing suicide and even go as far as to plan and also attempt to kill myself on more than one occasion. 

The process that runs through a mind of a person with Aspergers is one that can not be understood by someone who has not got our condition or experiences the deep and frightening thoughts running through our minds. 

Looking further into the report online the more alarming statistics come to light:

• 66% or two thirds of Adults with Aspergers Syndrome who took the survey admitted that they have had thoughts about committing suicide. 
• 35% admitted to making plans or attempts to end their lives by Suicide. 
• 31% reported that they suffer from Depression. 

What this means in context to the rest of the General Population, taking into account others with physical or mental illness the statistics become more apparent that something needs to be addressed when it comes to the treatment of Adults with Aspergers Syndrome with Mental Illness and also looking specifically at the transition into Adulthood for Young Adults with Aspergers Syndrome.

"Compared to the rest of the General Population, adults with Aspergers are 10 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts." 

Alarmingly Aspergers Adults were more likely to have these types of thoughts compared with people with more than one Medical Illness or people with a Mental Illness. 

So the question is what needs to be addressed when it comes to the treatment of someone with Aspergers Syndrome who suffers with depression? And how do you stop these problems from arising in the first place? 

The frightening thoughts that run around your head when you are suffering with depression and in particular suicidal thoughts is that as someone with Aspergers is more likely to become isolated more than they would normally in society. 

"A natural reaction to any Aspergers person is to lock themselves away from the world where it is safe. To a carer it is also a very stressful and distressing time to see their child or partner threaten to kill themselves and then isolate themselves further."

One of the key problems facing anyone who comes in contact with an Aspergers person who is upset or depressed, whether they are a carer, social worker or mental/medical professional is the Aspergers person will be unresponsive, will not communicate or will be very distressed and possibly be in a meltdown phase due to distress.  Other factors such as obsessive behaviours will become more apparent  and coping strategies will not necessarily work in this state. 

The fear that a Aspergers person with Depression who is either in a meltdown or harmed themselves is that they will be sectioned and forced to stay in Hospital or that they are being a burden to those who love them the most and will not be able to live with themselves further. 

I have been in a situation after a meltdown related to my Aspergers and Depression/Anxiety where I've been in A&E and the nurse treating me for a suspected fractured knuckle and instead of asking me about my autism or even reading my notes jokingly said:

"Should Count to ten before you react."

This did aggravate the situation further where once she left the room I began to become more aggressive and wanted to leave. A Psych Consult was also called in and that filled me with absolute dread. At this point in time I was allowed to discharge myself and I did because I didn't want to be sectioned. 

The Key things that need to be addressed are: 

1) Better Services to aid Aspergers Teens into Adulthood: 

I try to do this with my blog, and it completely infuriates me when I'm writing advice and tips to cope with the transition into stressful situations to see it then undone within a matter of seconds. Coming into contact with other Aspergers girls who  are younger than me who are terrified to go to school or don't want to come out of her bedroom because they're are scared is not right or the best thing for them. 

So please listen to me, I don't care if someone from the government/Autistic Charity/ Services is reading this! 

Please STOP cutting vital services for Children, Young Adults and Adults with Autism and other disabilities. They need this more than ever!! Also please put in place more safeguards for Adults and Carers so that if they need the help it is there. It's ok saying the National Autistic Society is there but trust me in rural areas they are non existent  it comes to help or support. 

2) Diagnosing Females earlier and better Diagnosing tools:

Another thing that infuriates me is that there is nothing documented on Aspergers in Women and I harp on about constantly but bare with me. Ok so in the 21st century why are we still stubborn to the fact that Women can be autistic or make it difficult to be diagnosed when they need to be. Another thing is that there needs to be more research into the traits that women with autism show and then from there make it easier to spot so that professionals who come in contact with them at the earliest point can tell parents/guardians that their child might be autistic. 

3) Better Training for Medical Professionals to understand the differences between a 'Normal' person with Depression and a Aspergers Person with Depression: 

We are working towards understanding and de-stigmatising mental illness and Autism, which is a really good step in the right direction but the treatment that a Aspergers person will face when going to the doctors or hospital reporting depression or having a meltdown episode shouldn't be one of harsh tactics or misunderstanding their problem. Just because we are displaying irrational behaviour or are unresponsive doesn't mean that we don't want the help. 

In many situations patience is the key, building trust with the Aspergers Person so they don't feel alone. Also having special needs staff available on sight to help the carer and the Aspergers Person and a Hospital Plan is amazing help.  Also staff should read our notes and understand simply what Aspergers is and what it means for that person. 

4)Different forms of treatment for Aspergers and Mental Health conditions: 

Instead of offering Medication straight away or therapy such as CBT, there should be more autistic trained councillors and where to find them is difficult. Instead of rushing into all the quick fix options look at the bigger picture and down the road where is this person going to be? Also understand that there is a routine that comes with this as well and that a Aspergers person has to do things in their own time. 

These are just my recommendations but I'm not in power or in government, but I want to get the point across that it is important that the treatment of a person with Aspergers and Autism is tailored to their condition and that they are cared for by those who comes in contact with them providing services or treating them for conditions such as mental health. 

In the end to my readers I just want to say that you guys are amazing and if you feel depressed or wanting to harm please tell someone you trust and get the help or support you need by professionals that understand and care about your life and where it goes.