‘Something needs to change’: Mental health experiences of young autistic adults in England
This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.
About the autistic author markerCrane, L., Adams, F., Harper, G., Welch, J., & Pellicano, E. (2018). ‘Something needs to change’: Mental health experiences of young autistic adults in England. Autism, 23(2), 477-493. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318757048
This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:
Authors
Abstract
There is a high incidence and prevalence of mental health problems among young people, with several barriers to help-seeking noted in this group. High rates of mental health problems have also been reported in children and adults on the autism spectrum. Taken together, young autistic people may be a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to mental health. Yet, there has been remarkably little work on the mental health needs and experiences of young autistic adults (16–25 years). Adopting a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach – in which academic researchers and young autistic adults collaborated in an equitable research partnership – we explored young autistic people’s experiences of mental health problems and their perspectives on the support they sought, if any, for these problems. A total of 130 young autistic adults took part in the research: 109 completed an online survey and 21 took part in detailed interviews. The results highlight how young autistic people find it difficult to evaluate their mental health, experience high levels of stigma and often face severe obstacles when trying to access mental health support. The findings also demonstrate how listening to – and learning from – young autistic people is crucial in ensuring that their mental health needs are met.
Bibliography cited by this reference
Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.
Cited bibliography overview
These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 14 Sep 2026 18:08.
- With a DOI
- 65
- Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
- 10
- References with detected author names
- 72 / 75 (96.0%)
- Without detected author names
- 3
- Without a structured title
- 5
- Without a stable identifier
- 9
- References with raw author names still to review
- 2
- References with external metadata lookup issues
- 0
- From DOI or external metadata
- 276
- From validated raw bibliography text
- 0
- Raw names already validated
- 0
- Raw names still to review
- 4
-
Julie Taylor (2009). The Transition Out of High School and into Adulthood for Individuals with Autism and for Their Families . In International Review of Research in Mental Retardation (pp. 1-32). Elsevier.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results . PsycEXTRA Dataset. American Psychological Association (APA).Crossref OpenAlex
-
Lydia Jones , Lorna Goddard , Elisabeth L. Hill , Lucy A. Henry , Laura Crane (2014). Experiences of Receiving a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Survey of Adults in the United Kingdom . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(12), 3033-3044. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnership Directorate, London, UK , Care Partnership Directorate (2014). Closing the Gap: Priorities for Essential Change in Mental Health . PsycEXTRA Dataset. American Psychological Association (APA).Crossref OpenAlex
-
Autistica (2016). Top 10 Research Priorities . Top 10 Research Priorities.Type: OtherCrossref
-
Marisa H Fisher , Julie Taylor (2016). Let’s talk about it: Peer victimization experiences as reported by adolescents with autism spectrum disorder . Autism, 20(4), 402-411. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Anthony F Jorm , Ailsa E Korten , Patricia A Jacomb , Helen Christensen , Bryan Rodgers , Penelope Pollitt (1997). “Mental health literacy”: a survey of the public's ability to recognise mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment . Medical Journal of Australia, 166(4), 182-186. Wiley.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Geoff J. Bathje , John B. Pryor (2011). The Relationships of Public and Self-Stigma to Seeking Mental Health Services . Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 33(2), 161-176. American Mental Health Counselors Association.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
David Goldberg , Paul Williams (1988). A User’s Guide to the General Health Questionnaire .Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1596333373Crossref OpenAlex
-
Sylvie Berthoz , Christophe Lalanne , Laura Crane , Elisabeth L. Hill (2013). Investigating emotional impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorders and the broader autism phenotype . Psychiatry Research, 208(3), 257-264. Elsevier BV.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Frank C. Verhulst (1997). The Prevalence of DSM-III-R Diagnoses in a National Sample of Dutch Adolescents . Archives of General Psychiatry, 54(4), 329. American Medical Association (AMA).Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Elizabeth E. Biggs , Erik W. Carter (2016). Quality of Life for Transition-Age Youth with Autism or Intellectual Disability . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(1), 190-204. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Lucy Biddle , Jenny Donovan , Debbie Sharp , David Gunnell (2007). Explaining non‐help‐seeking amongst young adults with mental distress: a dynamic interpretive model of illness behaviour . Sociology of Health & Illness, 29(7), 983-1002. Wiley.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Henrik D Zachrisson , Kjetil Rödje , Arnstein Mykletun (2006). Utilization of health services in relation to mental health problems in adolescents: A population based survey . BMC Public Health, 6(1), 34-34. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Graeme Hawthorne , Helen Herrman , Barbara Murphy (2006). Interpreting the WHOQOL-Brèf: Preliminary Population Norms and Effect Sizes . Social Indicators Research, 77(1), 37-59. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Katherine Gotham , Alison R Marvin , Julie Taylor , Zachary Warren , Connie M Anderson , Paul A Law et al. (2015). Characterizing the daily life, needs, and priorities of adults with autism spectrum disorder from Interactive Autism Network data . Autism, 19(7), 794-804. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Max Birchwood , Swaran P. Singh (2013). Mental health services for young people: matching the service to the need . British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s54), s1-s2. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Faye A. Gary (2005). STIGMA: BARRIER TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AMONG ETHNIC MINORITIES . Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 26(10), 979-999. Informa UK Limited.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Barbara A. Israel , Edith A. Parker , Zachary Rowe , Alicia Salvatore , Meredith Minkler , Jesús López et al. (2005). Community-Based Participatory Research: Lessons Learned from the Centers for Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research . Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(10), 1463-1471. American Chemical Society (ACS).Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology . Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. Informa UK Limited.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Seth M. Noar (2006). A 10-Year Retrospective of Research in Health Mass Media Campaigns: Where Do We Go From Here? Journal of Health Communication, 11(1), 21-42. Informa UK Limited.Crossref OpenAlex
-
M. Catherine Cappadocia , Jonathan A. Weiss , Debra Pepler (2012). Bullying Experiences Among Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(2), 266-277. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Sarah Cassidy , Paul Bradley , Janine Robinson , Carrie Allison , Meghan McHugh , Simon Baron-Cohen (2014). Suicidal ideation and suicide plans or attempts in adults with Asperger's syndrome attending a specialist diagnostic clinic: a clinical cohort study . The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(2), 142-147. Elsevier BV.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
John F. Strang , Lauren Kenworthy , Peter Daniolos , Laura Case , Meagan C. Wills , Alex Martin et al. (2012). Depression and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders without intellectual disability . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 406-412. Elsevier BV.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Nancy Cheak‐Zamora , Michelle Teti (2015). “You think it’s hard now … It gets much harder for our children”: Youth with autism and their caregiver’s perspectives of health care transition services . Autism, 19(8), 992-1001. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Constantino JN (2012). Social Responsiveness Scale–Second Edition (SRS-2) . Social Responsiveness Scale–Second Edition (SRS-2).Type: OtherCrossref
-
Christina Nicolaidis , Clarissa Kripke , Dora M. Raymaker *Autistic author. Learn more… (2014). Primary Care for Adults on the Autism Spectrum . Medical Clinics of North America, 98(5), 1169-1191. Elsevier BV.
-
Christina Nicolaidis , Dora M. Raymaker *Autistic author. Learn more… , Katherine McDonald , Sebastian Dern , W. Cody Boisclair *Autistic author. Learn more… , Elesia Ashkenazy *Autistic author. Learn more… et al. (2013). Comparison of Healthcare Experiences in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Facilitated by an Academic-Community Partnership . Journal of General Internal Medicine, 28(6), 761-769. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
-
Laura Crane , James W Chester , Lorna Goddard , Lucy A Henry , Elisabeth L. Hill (2016). Experiences of autism diagnosis: A survey of over 1000 parents in the United Kingdom . Autism, 20(2), 153-162. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Arthur H. Crisp , Michael G. Gelder , Susannah Rix , Howard I. Meltzer , Olwen J. Rowlands (2000). Stigmatisation of people with mental illnesses . British Journal of Psychiatry, 177(1), 4-7. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Ovsanna T. Leyfer , Susan E. Folstein , Susan Bacalman , Naomi Davis , Elena Dinh , Jubel Morgan et al. (2006). Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Children with Autism: Interview Development and Rates of Disorders . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(7), 849-861. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Cecilia A. Essau (2005). Frequency and patterns of mental health services utilization among adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders . Depression and Anxiety, 22(3), 130-137. Wiley.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Gael I. Orsmond , Paul Shattuck , Benjamin P. Cooper , Paul R. Sterzing , Kristy A. Anderson (2013). Social Participation Among Young Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(11), 2710-2719. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Elisabeth L. Hill , Sylvie Berthoz , Uta Frith (2004). Brief Report: Cognitive Processing of Own Emotions in Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and in Their Relatives . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(2), 229-235. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Noah J. Sasson , Daniel J. Faso , Jack Nugent , Sarah Lovell , Daniel P. Kennedy , Ruth B. Grossman (2017). Neurotypical Peers are Less Willing to Interact with Those with Autism based on Thin Slice Judgments . Scientific Reports, 7(1), 40700. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Nora DB Friedman , Marji Erickson Warfield , Susan L Parish (2013). Transition to adulthood for individuals with autism spectrum disorder: current issues and future perspectives . Neuropsychiatry, 3(2), 181-192. OMICS Publishing Group.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Christina Nicolaidis , Dora M. Raymaker *Autistic author. Learn more… , Katherine McDonald , Sebastian Dern , Elesia Ashkenazy *Autistic author. Learn more… , W. Cody Boisclair *Autistic author. Learn more… et al. (2011). Collaboration Strategies in Nontraditional Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships: Lessons From an Academic–Community Partnership With Autistic Self-Advocates . Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 5(2), 143-150. Project MUSE.AutiHub · Autistic Autism Scholarship Project AutiHub · Documentation center Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Kristen Gillespie-Lynch , Patricia J. Brooks , Fumio Someki , Rita Obeid , Christina Shane‐Simpson , Steven K. Kapp *Autistic author. Learn more… et al. (2015). Changing College Students’ Conceptions of Autism: An Online Training to Increase Knowledge and Decrease Stigma . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(8), 2553-2566. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
-
Paul Shattuck , Sarah Carter Narendorf , Benjamin Cooper , Paul R. Sterzing , Mary Wagner , Julie Taylor (2012). Postsecondary Education and Employment Among Youth With an Autism Spectrum Disorder . Pediatrics, 129(6), 1042-1049. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Christina Nicolaidis , Dora M. Raymaker *Autistic author. Learn more… , Elesia Ashkenazy *Autistic author. Learn more… , Katherine McDonald , Sebastian Dern , Mel Baggs *Autistic author. Learn more… et al. (2015). “Respect the way I need to communicate with you”: Healthcare experiences of adults on the autism spectrum . Autism, 19(7), 824-831. SAGE Publications.AutiHub · Autistic Autism Scholarship Project AutiHub · Documentation center Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Amelia Gulliver , Kathleen M Griffiths , Helen Christensen (2010). Perceived barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people: a systematic review . BMC Psychiatry, 10(1), 113-113. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Silvana Unigwe , Carole Buckley , Laura Crane , Lorcan Kenny , Anna Remington , Elizabeth Pellicano (2017). GPs’ confidence in caring for their patients on the autism spectrum: an online self-report study . British Journal of General Practice, 67(659), e445-e452. Royal College of General Practitioners.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Vikram Patel , Alan J Flisher , Sarah Hetrick , Patrick McGorry (2007). Mental health of young people: a global public-health challenge . The Lancet, 369(9569), 1302-1313. Elsevier BV.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Elizabeth Pellicano , Adam Dinsmore , Tony Charman (2014). Views on Researcher-Community Engagement in Autism Research in the United Kingdom: A Mixed-Methods Study . PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109946. Public Library of Science (PLoS).
-
Moli Paul , Tamsin Ford , Tami Kramer , Zoebia Islam , Kath Harley , Swaran P. Singh (2013). Transfers and transitions between child and adult mental health services . British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s54), s36-s40. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Debra Rickwood , Frank P. Deane , Coralie J. Wilson , Joseph Ciarrochi (2005). Young people’s help-seeking for mental health problems . Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 4(3), 218-251. Informa UK Limited.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Tatja Hirvikoski , Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz , Marcus Boman , Henrik Larsson , Paul Lichtenstein , Sven Bölte (2016). Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder . British Journal of Psychiatry, 208(3), 232-238. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Mary E. Stewart , Louise Barnard , Joanne Pearson , Reem Hasan , Gregory O’Brien (2006). Presentation of depression in autism and Asperger syndrome . Autism, 10(1), 103-116. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
P. B. Jones (2013). Adult mental health disorders and their age at onset . British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s54), s5-s10. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Emily Simonoff , Andrew Pickles , Tony Charman , Susie Chandler , Tom Loucas , Gillian Baird (2008). Psychiatric Disorders in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence, Comorbidity, and Associated Factors in a Population-Derived Sample . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(8), 921-929. Elsevier BV.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Kamp-Becker I (2010). bibr30-1362361318757048 Psycho-Social Medicine, 7, Doc03.Type: OtherCrossref
-
Kamp-Becker, Inge , Schröder, Johanna , Helmut Remschmidt , Bachmann, Christian J. (2010). Health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with high functioning autism-spectrum disorder . PubMed, 7. German Medical Science GMS Publishing House.OpenCitations
-
Kelly CM (2007). bibr31-1362361318757048 The Medical Journal of Australia, 187(7), S26.Type: OtherCrossref
-
Karen A Kuhlthau , Marji E Warfield , Jill Hurson , Jennifer Delahaye , Morgan K Crossman (2015). Pediatric provider’s perspectives on the transition to adult health care for youth with autism spectrum disorder: Current strategies and promising new directions . Autism, 19(3), 262-271. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Lorcan Kenny , Caroline Hattersley , Bonnie Molins , Carole Buckley , Carol Povey , Elizabeth Pellicano (2016). Which terms should be used to describe autism? Perspectives from the UK autism community . Autism, 20(4), 442-462. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Connor M. Kerns , Brenna B. Maddox , Philip C Kendall , Keiran Rump , Leandra Berry , Robert T. Schultz et al. (2015). Brief measures of anxiety in non-treatment-seeking youth with autism spectrum disorder . Autism, 19(8), 969-979. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
S.M. Skevington , M. Lotfy , K.A. O'Connell (2004). The World Health Organization's WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment: Psychometric properties and results of the international field trial. A Report from the WHOQOL Group . Quality of Life Research, 13(2), 299-310. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Anne G. Lever , Hilde M. Geurts (2016). Psychiatric Co-occurring Symptoms and Disorders in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(6), 1916-1930. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Swaran P. Singh , Moli Paul , Tamsin Ford , Tami Kramer , Tim Weaver , Susan McLaren et al. (2010). Process, outcome and experience of transition from child to adult mental healthcare: multiperspective study . British Journal of Psychiatry, 197(4), 305-312. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
D.J. Rickwood , V.A. Braithwaite (1994). Social-psychological factors affecting help-seeking for emotional problems . Social Science & Medicine, 39(4), 563-572. Elsevier BV.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Julie Taylor , Ryan E. Adams , Somer Bishop (2017). Social participation and its relation to internalizing symptoms among youth with autism spectrum disorder as they transition from high school . Autism Research, 10(4), 663-672. Wiley.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Patrick McGorry , Tony Bates , Max Birchwood (2013). Designing youth mental health services for the 21st century: examples from Australia, Ireland and the UK . British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s54), s30-s35. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
Patrick McGorry (2013). Prevention, innovation and implementation science in mental health: the next wave of reform . British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s54), s3-s4. Royal College of Psychiatrists.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
-
McManus S, Bebbingon P, Jenkins R, et al. (2016) Mental Health and Wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014, https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/media/604876/mcmanus.pdfType: OtherCrossref
-
Debra J Rickwood , Frank P Deane , Coralie J Wilson (2007). When and how do young people seek professional help for mental health problems? Medical Journal of Australia, 187(S7), S35-9. Wiley.OpenCitations
-
Cos Michael *Autistic author. Learn more… (2016). Why we need research about autism and ageing . Autism, 20(5), 515-516. SAGE Publications.
-
Elizabeth Pellicano , Adam Dinsmore , Tony Charman (2014). What should autism research focus upon? Community views and priorities from the United Kingdom . Autism, 18(7), 756-770. SAGE Publications.
-
Rickwood D (2007). bibr54-1362361318757048 The Medical Journal of Australia, 187(7), s35.Type: OtherCrossref
-
Royal College of Psychiatrists (2010). No Health without Public Mental Health: The Case for Action . No Health without Public Mental Health: The Case for Action.Type: OtherCrossref
-
Claire M Kelly , Anthony F Jorm , Annemarie Wright (2007). Improving mental health literacy as a strategy to facilitate early intervention for mental disorders . Medical Journal of Australia, 187(S7), S26. Wiley.OpenCitations
-
Seth M. Noar (2006). A 10-Year Retrospective of Research in Health Mass Media Campaigns: Where Do We Go From Here? Journal of Health Communication, 11(1), 21-42. Informa UK Limited.Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/10810730500461059 10.17615/n86g-6534OpenCitations
-
(1923). “The Medical Journal of Australia” . Medical Journal of Australia, 1(1), 19-19. AMPCo.OpenAlex
-
Sinclair J (1999) Why I Dislike ‘Person-first’ Language: Jim Sinclair’s website. Available at: http://web.archive.org/web/20090210190652/ http://web.syr.edu/~jisincla/person_first.htm (accessed 26 November 2017).Type: OtherCrossref
-
Eilhard von Domarus (1949). Psychosocial Medicine . American Journal of Psychotherapy, 3(1), 120-121. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.Type: Article DOI: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1949.3.1.120 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4243966910OpenAlex
-
World Health Organization (WHO) (1996). WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, Administration, Scoring and Generic Version of the Assessment: Field Trial Version . WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, Administration, Scoring and Generic Version of the Assessment: Field Trial Version.Type: OtherCrossref