Cookies help us to understand how you use our website so that we can provide you with the best experience when you are on our site. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy.
Manage Cookies
A cookie is information stored on your computer by a website you visit. Cookies often store your settings for a website, such as your preferred language or location. This allows the site to present you with information customized to fit your needs. As per the GDPR law, companies need to get your explicit approval to collect your data. Some of these cookies are ‘strictly necessary’ to provide the basic functions of the website and can not be turned off, while others if present, have the option of being turned off. Learn more about our Privacy and Cookie policies. These can be managed also from our cookie policy page.
Strictly necessary cookies(always on):
Necessary for enabling core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. This cannot be turned off. e.g. Sign in, Language
Analytics cookies:
Analytical cookies help us to analyse user behaviour, mainly to see if the users are able to find and act on things that they are looking for. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. Tools used: Google Analytics
Social media cookies:
We use social media cookies from Facebook, Twitter and Google to run Widgets, Embed Videos, Posts, Comments and to fetch profile information.
Share Autism, mental health and wellbeing on FacebookShare Autism, mental health and wellbeing on TwitterShare Autism, mental health and wellbeing on LinkedinEmail Autism, mental health and wellbeing link
Gathering thoughts about the co-occurrence of autism and mental health difficulties.
West Sussex currently has large numbers of children and young people awaiting assessment on the neurodevelopmental pathway, at the same time waiting lists to access mental health support are also lengthy. Reports from a range of services (including A&E, MAMHET, and schools) tell us that there is a clear co-relation between autistic children and young people (or those with social communication differences) and those who are experiencing mental health difficulties. We also know that nationally autistic children and young people are more likely to experience eating disorders, emotionally-based school avoidance, and suicidality, as compared to their neurotypical peers.
As understanding about neurodivergence grows (and therefore number of children and young people diagnosed as having a neurodevelopmental difference increases), it is important that we work together to improve mental health outcomes for these pupils.
The first stage of this work is to gather views about autism and mental health and how this co-occurrence presents in schools.
Your views are vital in informing how we go about this work and we thank you very much for your time.
Alternative Formats and Accessibility
If you require any of this information in an alternative format, then please contact us by phone 03302229345or via email at vik.machin@westsussex.gov.uk and we will assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 03302229345
Gathering thoughts about the co-occurrence of autism and mental health difficulties.
West Sussex currently has large numbers of children and young people awaiting assessment on the neurodevelopmental pathway, at the same time waiting lists to access mental health support are also lengthy. Reports from a range of services (including A&E, MAMHET, and schools) tell us that there is a clear co-relation between autistic children and young people (or those with social communication differences) and those who are experiencing mental health difficulties. We also know that nationally autistic children and young people are more likely to experience eating disorders, emotionally-based school avoidance, and suicidality, as compared to their neurotypical peers.
As understanding about neurodivergence grows (and therefore number of children and young people diagnosed as having a neurodevelopmental difference increases), it is important that we work together to improve mental health outcomes for these pupils.
The first stage of this work is to gather views about autism and mental health and how this co-occurrence presents in schools.
Your views are vital in informing how we go about this work and we thank you very much for your time.
Alternative Formats and Accessibility
If you require any of this information in an alternative format, then please contact us by phone 03302229345or via email at vik.machin@westsussex.gov.uk and we will assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 03302229345
Share The mental health of autistic pupils in schools on FacebookShare The mental health of autistic pupils in schools on TwitterShare The mental health of autistic pupils in schools on LinkedinEmail The mental health of autistic pupils in schools link
