“The best way we can stop suicides is by making lives worth living”: a mixed-methods survey in the UK of perspectives on suicide prevention from the autism community

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Moseley, R. L., Marsden, S. J., Pelton, M., Weir, E., Procyshyn, T., Allison, C. T., Parsons, T. A., Cassidy, S., Chikaura, T., Hodges, H., Mosse, D., Rodgers, J., Hall, I., Owens, L., Cheyette, J., Crichton, D., Hedley, D., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2026). “The best way we can stop suicides is by making lives worth living”: a mixed-methods survey in the UK of perspectives on suicide prevention from the autism community. eClinicalMedicine, 93, 103793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103793

Publication date: 1 Mar 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
18
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 18 (11.1%)
  1. Rachel L. Moseley *
  2. Sarah J. Marsden
  3. Mirabel Pelton
  4. Elizabeth Weir
  5. Tanya Procyshyn
  6. Carrie T. Allison
  1. Tracey A. Parsons *
  2. Sarah Cassidy
  3. Tanatswa Chikaura
  4. Holly Hodges
  5. David Mosse
  6. Jacqui Rodgers
  1. Ian Hall
  2. Lewis Owens
  3. Jon Cheyette
  4. David Crichton
  5. Darren Hedley
  6. Simon Baron-Cohen

Abstract

Background: Autistic people are at higher risk of dying by suicide than are non-autistic people, but research focused on suicide prevention in autistic individuals is lacking. We aimed to understand, from autistic people and those who support them, the pathways to suicide prevention, the balance of crisis measures vs. longer-term prevention, the importance of formal diagnosis, and the role of co-design and co-production in suicide prevention activities. Methods: We undertook a mixed-methods, two-phase online survey focused on the priorities, views and perspectives of autistic people and their supporters/allies on approaches and strategies to prevent suicide. In Phase 1 (Jan 10-July 31, 2024), via the first survey, we collected and thematically analysed ideas for suicide prevention from almost 1200 autistic people and more than 200 people who identified as supporters and/or allies of autistic people. In Phase 2 (reported herein), a larger group of participants rated and ranked these ideas via a second online survey, during which we collected qualitative and quantitative data. Participants were UK residents aged ≥16 years who self-identified as being in one or more of the following groups: autistic; someone with experience supporting an autistic person of any age or ability; and/or someone with experience of bereavement by the suicide of an autistic person they supported. The online survey included closed-ended and open-ended (qualitative) questions. We thematically analysed free-text responses, and computed descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions. Findings: Between Nov 1, 2024, and Jan 31, 2025, 2778 individuals responded to the online survey (Phase 2), comprising 2463 autistic people and 315 non-autistic people who identified as supporters/allies of autistic people, some of whom had been bereaved by the suicide of an autistic person. Although some participants reported that crisis interventions (eg, dedicated helplines) were most urgent, a greater number prioritised larger-scale preventative measures (eg, improving support in schools) to address systemic inequalities, which some participants perceived as the root of suicidal thoughts. Across their qualitative and quantitative responses, most participants recommended providing support to people awaiting autism assessment, but some were less supportive of providing dedicated autism supports to people who self-diagnose or who are questioning a possible autistic identity. The qualitative and quantitative data suggested that most participants viewed co-design and co-production of interventions and initiatives to prevent suicide as vital for ensuring these reflect the expertise and empathy that autistic people could bring to individuals struggling with similar experiences. Interpretation: This qualitative work with experts by experience supports that suicide in autistic people should be viewed in the context of pervasive and systemic injustices, rather than individualistic psychopathology. Accordingly, the extent to which crisis interventions can reduce suicide rates is contingent on additional systemic, preventative, and coordinated actions to tackle the social determinants of suicide and support enduring wellbeing in this group. Support should be produced in partnership with autistic people and their advocates, and be needs-based rather than diagnosis-based. In future research, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers should develop community partnerships to facilitate co-development of strategic, multi-level action plans and initiatives for suicide prevention. Funding: Autism Action (previously the Autism Centre of Excellence at Cambridge).

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Associated preprints

Confirmed Reliability level: Medium Manual
Confirmed Reliability level: Medium Manual

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 16:12.

Cited references
42
With a DOI
32
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
10
12 / 42 (28.6%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
3 / 42 (7.1%)
References with detected author names
40 / 42 (95.2%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
10
References with raw author names still to review
0
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
265
From DOI or external metadata
265
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
159 / 265 (60.0%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 106 / 265 (40.0%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
33 / 265 (12.5%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 33 / 159 (20.8%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 31 / 231 (13.4%).
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