Parents’ experiences of supporting their autistic child with mental health difficulties

What is it about?

Our study explored the experiences of UK parents supporting their autistic children who are also facing mental health difficulties. Mixed-methods surveys were completed by 300 parents/carers of autistic children who had previously sought help for their child’s mental health difficulties. Three themes were identified: 1) Deteriorating parental wellbeing 2) The knock-on effect on the whole family 3) A lack of support. Findings highlight the significant challenges faced by parents, as they were often left to manage their child’s deteriorating mental health without professional support. As a result, parents were left to carry the significant burden of trying to keep their child safe from harm and supporting them at home in the best way that they can. In other words, they were having to act “in loco therapist” alone, to the detriment of their own and their family’s wellbeing. The emotional and physical toll on parents was thought to be made worse by long waiting times, inadequate support services, and a lack of understanding of autism within healthcare and educational systems. Similarly, parents reported their child’s school as a key issue, with their child’s mental health difficulties often beginning or being exacerbated there, due to unmet needs and neurotypical models of provision, along with a lack of help and support from the school when difficulties arose.

Featured Image

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The findings highlight the urgent need for more neurodiversity informed, personalised approaches to supporting autistic young people and their families, along with timely access to effective interventions. Greater awareness and training for healthcare and education professionals, alongside clearer support systems and improved service infrastructure, are critical in addressing these issues. By ensuring earlier intervention and reducing systemic barriers, both the mental health of young people and the wellbeing of their families can be significantly improved, ultimately fostering better outcomes for all involved.