Autism and suicide risk

Sadly, suicide is a leading cause of early death for autistic people. Suicide risk for autistic people has been recognised nationally in the UK and is included in the five-year National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

  • Suicide is a leading cause of early death for autistic people
  • More than 6 in 10 autistic people have considered suicide
  • 3 in 10 autistic adults have attempted suicide
  • Autistic women are 13 times more likely to die by suicide than non-autistic women.

Not all autistic people will experience suicidal thoughts, but research shows that suicidal thoughts and behaviours are significantly increased in autistic adults when compared to the general population.

Some of the traits more commonly experienced by autistic people that can contribute to suicide risk include:  

  • Alexithymia - a difficulty recognising and describing one's own emotions
  • Masking – camouflaging or masking autistic traits in public to try and fit in more or better cope in social situations.
  • Repetitive thoughts
  • Unmet needs and lack of tangible support – accessible and appropriate support that inclusive and sensitive to the needs of the autistic person can be more challenging to find
  • Sensory sensitivities - overwhelming sensory experiences can contribute to emotional distress and feelings of being overwhelmed.
  • Bullying - bullying, discrimination, and stigma can negatively impact self-esteem and mental wellbeing.
  • Social challenges - struggling with social interaction and communication can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and make it difficult to form relationships.
  • Difficulty coping with transitions and change

We know that suicide is complex. It’s rarely the result of one single reason but rather a build-up of different factors.

In our research, we heard similar experiences and factors being repeated when asked what contributed to feeling suicidal:

  • Feeling misunderstood, different and isolated
  • Stress, sensory overload leading to meltdowns, shutdowns and burnout
  • Frustration, not understanding why they felt this way, living in a neurotypical world as an autistic person, lack of support
  • Trauma, grief, difficult family dynamics
  • Exhaustion from constant masking
  • General poor mental health

Supporting someone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts can be challenging and understanding different needs and challenges can help:

  • Communicate clearly and directly.
  • Be patient. Allow them time to process what you’re saying before they respond.
  • Be empathetic. Avoid telling someone they’re wrong for how they feel
  • Offer sensory support. This could be ensuring the environment you’re in doesn’t have too much sensory stimulation like bright lights or lots of background noise
  • If someone is struggling to express how they feel, offer alternatives. For example, expressing how they feel through writing or drawing.
  • Everyone has unique needs. Listen to feedback and be open to adjusting your approach if needed.
  • Encourage them to access help and support
  • Encourage them to develop a safety plan

The ZSA Autism and Suicide Awareness Training also shares advice and guidance around this.

Find out about some of the help and support available on our support directory.