Saturday 10th September 2022 is World suicide prevention day.
TRIGGER WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS IF THE CONTENT MAY BE DISTRESSING.
I shall put this up front: If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or contact other sources of support, such as those listed on the NHS’s help for suicidal thoughts webpage.
As there will be more people suffering from stress, depression and doubt due to the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II I have decided to post this anyway. Dealing with suicidal thoughts has become even more relevant since I wrote this.
Suicide is the 10th leading causes of death in all age groups and only one of the two leading causes which are increasing. Though the 2020 figures show a decrease against this trend, but a delay in reporting deaths due to Covid is acknowledged to be a factor. In the USA suicide is the second leading cause in people in their late teens, in the UK the rate is highest in 45 to 49 year-old males.
Things change when you look at autistic people. I have found two stories: One in the Lancet[1] of June 1st 2017 which quotes research published on May 24th that year on the prevention of Suicide in Autism, and another in Spectrum News[2] of 8th August 2018 which quotes research from the UK. They could both be pointing to the same research.
Spectrum News says that a 2015 study of Sweden’s National Patient Registry found that autistic people were 10 times more likely to die by suicide than those in the general population and that women with autism and no learning difficulties are particularly at risk compared to men in the general population. The criteria used in the general population for dealing with suicide risk may not be appropriate in autistic people.
If an autistic person tells you they want to take their life, take them seriously!
The Lancet article says that 66% of autistic people in the survey had contemplated suicide, which is well over the 17% in the general population, and 35% of them had planned or attempted suicide. The trend of society to make things louder and brighter is not helping.
An interplay between known factors in Autism, such as depression, anxiety and bullying is being looked at. Social challenges, communication difficulties and co-diagnosis of other issues such as ADHD are also thought to be significant. It has been found that what is considered as suicide risk in the general population is being interpreted as self-harm on autistic people. This has got to stop. If suicide is screened for, more suicides will be prevented.
If you need help please seek help.
As well as supporting Kirklees Autism Group, Touchstone provide two free Kirklees Crisis Cafe services to support anyone in, or approaching, crisis.
(Broken links removed)
If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or contact other sources of support, such as those listed on the NHS’s help for suicidal thoughts webpage.
[1] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(17)30162-1/fulltext
[2] https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/hidden-danger-suicide-autism/
[3] led by Dr Tatja Hirvikoski at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Making an ass of myself 