Psychological Autopsy
Identifying targets to prevent suicide in autism: A psychological autopsy study is funded by Autistica and NIHR CLAHRC East of England.
Evidence shows that 66% of autistic people have considered suicide, which is considerably higher than the general population (17%). Research suggests that autistic people are more likely to die by suicide than the general population. However, no research has explored why, to help prevent suicide in autistic people.
We have been examining coroners' inquests investigating the causes of death by suicide, in two regions of the UK, from 2014 to 2018. So far we have identified evidence of autism in 11% of those who died by suicide, much higher than the 1% of people in the general population.
To explore whether autistic people have different risk factors for suicide we are interviewing the next of kin of people who have died by suicide. We are talking to people who have lost a loved one to suicide, to confirm possible autism and other diagnoses, and to understand the circumstances leading up to their loved ones' death.
If you would like further information about this project, please get in touch with the Research Team at suicideprevention.hls@coventry.ac.uk
Our Partners
Autistica
A charity which funds medical research to understand the causes of autism, improve diagnosis, and develop new treatments and interventions. Our Vision is for a brighter future for people with autism and their families, where advanced scientific understanding of autism means that evidence-based interventions are readily available, diagnosis is early, and causes are properly understood.
Coventry University
CIRAL brings together interdisciplinary teams of academics and doctoral researchers. Working closely with users, service providers, commissioners and industry and conducting theoretically driven research that benefits the health and wellbeing of children and adults, families and society through the advancement of fundamental knowledge, promotion of behaviour change, development of services and contribution to policy.
CLAHRC East of England
The EDD theme’s overarching aim is to promote inter-disciplinary, mixed methods, high quality applied health research and implementation projects that will improve the mental and physical health and well-being of a diverse group of children, young people and adults likely to be adversely affected, across a range of situations, by life-long developmental disabilities, acquired disabilities and/or extreme disadvantage.