Yes when I was depressed after losing my job due to gang bullying and grooming from one of the employees there I was went to my GP (General Practitioner) who then referred me to Mental Health Services (MHS). I was there for over a year with not much help from anybody.
My Autism was not picked up until I was 22 years old (it would take another two years for a formal diagnosis). Mental Health Professionals could see the additional Mental Health problems I had, for example they could clearly see I was depressed. I had Borderline Personality Disorder which made me feel awful and I was self harming.
The next was Schizotypal Personality Disorder which made me have psychotic episodes and strange "magical" thoughts. I was also socially withdrawn but they couldn't see the Autism. This is because Autism is a Developmental Disorder not a Mental Health Disorder (although people with Autism & Asperger's Syndrome are more likely to suffer with them in childhood and adulthood).
The two Mental Health Professionals one a Psychiatrist the other a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist would simply not have it that I had Autism. I was reading books about the disorder, I was telling them out right that I thought I had this but they where having none of it. However I did fill in a Autistic Quotient Test and gave it to the specialist.
In October 2009 we thought we where getting somewhere and that I was going to get a "diagnosis", my Mum and Dad were also invited to come. We all went into this room and the (mis)diagnosis was "Asperger Traits With A Complex Personality". We all looked at each other my Mum asked "What is that?". The Specialist replied "Yes well....He has some traits but the complex personality was due to the bullying at school...". This is because people in Mental Health Services need more training in Autism & Asperger's Syndrome they see the Mental Health Problems but not the core of it which is Autism.
Imagine The Sun the core of the universe is the ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) and all other planets are additional Mental Health Issues.
Sun - Autism/Asperger's Syndrome
Then next are the Planets (Mental Health Disorders)
Mercury - Borderline Personality Disorder
Mars - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Following on from this analogy Mental Health Professionals may only pick up on the Planets and not the Sun. Hopefully in the near future this will not be the case and people will be able to get a diagnosis through the Mental Health Pathway.