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Call for action into 'worryingly high' rate of suicide among people with autism

Experts have called for more work to understand the risk of suicide among people with autism in England.
Suicide

Experts have called for more work to understand the risk of suicide among people with autism in England.


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Coventry and Newcastle Universities are hosting the world’s first summit on suicidality in autism where researchers are sharing their findings and calling for action.

Coventry’s Sarah Cassidy published a clinical study in 2014 showing 66% of adults newly diagnosed with Asperger syndrome reported having contemplated suicide.

Additionally, a 2016 population study in Sweden concluded suicide is the leading cause of premature death in people with autism spectrum disorder.

High rates of suicidality

Dr Cassidy from Coventry University’s centre for research in psychology, behaviour and achievement said: ‘What relatively little we know about suicidality in autism points to a worryingly high prevalence of people with the condition contemplating and attempting to take their own life.

‘More concerning still, the small body of research that does exist exposes serious shortcomings in how prepared we are to intervene and provide effective support to those with autism who are most at risk of dying by suicide.’

Urgent call for action

Co-author Jacqui Rodgers from Newcastle University’s institute of neuroscience added of the summit: ‘For the first time researchers and clinicians from the fields of autism and suicide research will come together to learn from each other and identify clinical and research priorities to address this urgent issue.’

Chief executive of autism research charity Autistica Jon Spiers said: ‘National and local government, research funders and industry, as well as the NHS and service providers all have a responsibility to tackle the issue of suicide in autism.’


Further information

Understanding and prevention of suicide in autism


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