Abstract
Abstract
Many autistic adults experience psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression. However, autistic adults often do not receive effective and affordable mental health (MH) treatment. Untreated psychiatric conditions in autistic adults are associated with a host of negative outcomes, including adaptive functioning impairments, difficulties with employment and independent living, and poor quality of life. The purpose of this Perspectives piece is to shed light on the current state of community MH services in the United States for autistic adults with co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Drawing on the available research and clinical experiences, we aim to (1) highlight positive developments in community mental health care for autistic adults; (2) summarize the barriers that continue to exist for autistic adults in need of MH services; and (3) provide recommendations for autistic adults and their families, community MH clinicians, and MH systems administrators to consider. Significant work is needed to provide autistic adults with affordable quality MH services. This Perspectives piece presents a summary of the needed changes and specific methods to continue to improve community MH services for autistic adults.
Lay Summary
Many autistic adults experience mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. However, autistic adults and their families often do not know where to turn for effective and affordable mental health treatment. The purpose of this Perspectives piece is to (1) highlight positive developments in community mental health care for autistic adults; (2) summarize the barriers that continue to exist for autistic adults in need of mental health services; and (3) provide recommendations for autistic adults and their families, community mental health clinicians, and mental health systems administrators to consider. Recommendations for autistic adults and their families include joining autism-related support and advocacy networks, looking for word-of-mouth referrals from peers who have had success with local mental health providers, and searching for therapists who have the core skills needed to treat the presenting problem at hand, even if they are not experts in autism per se. Recommendations for clinicians focus on the importance of adopting the same individualized approach they would use for any of their clients without autism. Recommendations for systems administrators include improving communication between the developmental disabilities and mental health systems, adding more courses and practicum experiences related to autistic adults in the required general training for physicians, psychologists, and social workers, and offering trainings to clinicians that focus on the treatment of mental health problems in autistic adults.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.