Our Research
The research team are working hard to understand why autistic adults experience mental health problems, self-injury, and thoughts about ending life, so we can develop and lobby for better support. We are looking for volunteers to help us do this. You can help in the following ways:
Understanding and helping autistic and non-autistic adults who self-harm
We are researchers in the self-harm research group, and mental health in autism project at the University of Nottingham. We want to learn why autistic and non-autistic adults self-harm. This will help us develop better understanding and support for autistic and non-autistic adults who self-harm.
We are asking adults (aged 18 years or older), who have self-harmed in the last 6 months, to take part in our study. You can take part if you are diagnosed autistic, self-identify as autistic (but not yet diagnosed), or are not autistic.
If you would like more information about the study or would like to take part, please contact the lead researcher Sarah Cassidy or the research assistant Blandine French:
Blandine.french@nottingham.ac.uk
Thank you for considering taking part in this research project.
Our latest online survey looking at the psychometric properties of our adapted depression and suicidality measures has now closed.
A huge thank you to over 1000 people who accessed the survey, both autistic and non-autistic!
We'll now be busy analysing all the data (there's a lot!) and deciding on our final adaptations to the measures. The comments you've provided are invaluable, and we really do take on board everything you suggest to make sure they are appropriate for use with autistic adults.
Soon we'll be publishing a survey looking at student populations, and another shorter survey ensuring the final changes we've made are accessible to autistic and non-autistic adults.
Our open consultation to gather information on research and policy priorities to prevent suicide in autism has now CLOSED. This was open to autistic people, clinicians, researchers, policy makers and anyone else who considers themselves a stakeholder to discuss suicide in autism, from anywhere in the world.
Thank you to over 700 people who took part. The ranked research questions are being discussed at the INSAR Policy Brief Meeting in April, and following this we will be sharing the outcomes internationally.
We have a new survey available, helping to understand the way autistic people may experience thoughts of ending their life, and if this may be different to the experience of non-autistic people. This online survey is open to everyone, whether or not you have a diagnosis, or even if you have no characteristics of autism.
For more information, and to complete the survey, please click here to be redirected.
Thank you to all the family and friends who have given their time talking about loved ones who have died by suicide. This involved a two hour interview about diagnoses and circumstances leading up to their loved one's death. Some people also had a follow up interview to discuss their loved one's early development and behaviour.
If you are would like any further information about this research please contact the research team at Coventry University at suicideprevention.hls@coventry.ac.uk