Listening to the experts: person-centred approaches to supporting autistic people and people with an intellectual disability in the mental health system

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Quinn, A., Wood, A., Lodge, K. M., & Hollins, S. (2023). Listening to the experts: person-centred approaches to supporting autistic people and people with an intellectual disability in the mental health system. BJPsych Advances, 29(5), 308-317. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2023.31

Publication date: 29 Aug 2023 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. Alexis Quinn *
  2. Alicia Wood
  3. Keri-Michèle Lodge
  4. Sheila Hollins

Abstract

SUMMARY Despite numerous UK government policies aimed at reducing the number of autistic people and people with an intellectual disability in mental health hospitals, little progress has been made, with many experiencing lengthy stays that offer little therapeutic benefit. Once admitted, people are at risk of restrictive interventions and significantly delayed discharge, resulting in trauma. This article draws on the cases of four people to illustrate the limitations of current mental health system approaches to the challenges experienced by autistic people and people with an intellectual disability. The importance of relational working and listening to people is explored, and we demonstrate how this can facilitate the provision of bespoke housing and care packages to enable a successful return to life in the community. Finally, we offer recommendations on the changes urgently needed to ensure that autistic people and people with an intellectual disability can live ordinary lives in their own homes, with timely and effective support from mental health services when needed, just like everyone else.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
21
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
5 / 21 (23.8%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
8 / 50 (16.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 8 / 27 (29.6%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 6 / 39 (15.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
27 / 50 (54.0%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 20 / 39 (51.3%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
19 / 27 (70.4%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 19 / 50 (38.0%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 14 / 20 (70.0%).
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