Autistic People's Experiences With Mental Health Services: Intersectionality Matters

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Adams, D., Malone, S., Lawson, W., Breasley, J., Girdler, S., & Carroll, A. (2025). Autistic People's Experiences With Mental Health Services: Intersectionality Matters. Neurodiversity, 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330251369785

Publication date: 1 Jun 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)
  1. Dawn Adams
  2. Stephanie Malone
  3. Wenn Lawson *
  1. Jayden Breasley
  2. Sonya Girdler
  3. Annette Carroll

Abstract

Autistic people experience elevated rates of mental health conditions compared to non-autistic people; however, significant barriers to services are encountered. This study reports on the problems autistic people experience when accessing, or trying to access, mental health services in Australia. This report also highlights what would support improvements or solutions to these problems. Open-text responses by 539 participants (including 250 autistic people) were collected via an online survey. Every participant's response was read and coded using content analysis. The most frequently reported problems were a lack of skilled therapists and therapists who understood autism. Respondents identified training needs about autism, more neurodivergent professionals, and increased funding as factors necessary to reduce the problems. An exploratory analysis examining responses through an intersectional lens (specifically autistic people who identify as women, LGBTQIA+, low socioeconomic status, older, or living in regional/remote areas) suggests differing perspectives and experiences. While overlapping identities were not analysed cumulatively, the findings offer a foundational view to guide future, more granular inquiry to improve mental health service experiences for autistic people. Lay Abstract Many autistic people will experience mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression. Sometimes these challenges can become significant enough that support is needed from a mental health professional. In this study, we wanted to find out what experiences autistic people have when they seek help from a mental healthcare professional or a mental health service. We also wanted to know what can be done to improve these experiences. We received responses from 539 people. Nearly half were autistic people, others were parents/caregivers/family, and allied health, medical or mental healthcare professionals. The most common problem reported was difficulty finding therapists who are skilled or who understand autism. Many people suggested that mental health professionals need more training about autism, and that better funding is needed to help autistic people access appropriate support. We know that not all autistic people have the same experience. So, we went on to look at the data more closely to see how experiences differed based on factors such as gender or age. This analysis showed that different groups can face different barriers or challenges. These findings suggest that more research is needed to better understand the needs of specific groups and to improve mental health services for all autistic people.

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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: 2 Oct 2026 08:03.

Cited references
50
With a DOI
47
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
3
13 / 50 (26.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 50 (2.0%)
References with detected author names
49 / 50 (98.0%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
3
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
241
From DOI or external metadata
241
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
2
137 / 241 (56.8%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 104 / 241 (43.2%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
23 / 241 (9.5%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 23 / 137 (16.8%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 18 / 214 (8.4%).
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