Mental Health in the Context of Neurodiversity:
No matter one’s color, gender, or story, suicide is an illness that sweeps over nearly 800,000 individuals each year. The obstacle of overcoming such a prevalent condition is often a reflection of the stigmas associated with the illness. Often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions, individuals with suicidal thoughts are left vulnerable without the treatment needed to combat this issue. So while for some, these experiences may not come first hand, the ability to recognize that it plagues the world around us is the first step to combatting something greater than all of us. The stigma surrounding suicide creates a harmful atmosphere for struggling individuals and as a society, it is up to us to overcome these barriers by popping the stigma.
In recognition of September, suicide prevention awareness month, we wanted to focus in the impact of mental health on the neurodivergent community. During this time, isolation is more common than ever and understanding the importance of connection for a majority of the neurodiverse community can help us understand how mental health may be impacting their lives.
Although mental health and suicide are issues that affects individuals all throughout the world, it is even more common among the neurodiverse community. Autism, a common neurodiverse condition, is typically characterized by psychological conditions that include depression and anxiety. The effects of living with a condition that requires greater connection to the surroundings and those around you means that more than ever, individuals in the neurodiverse community are enduring through the psychological conditions that are fueled by the reduced amount of personal connection. Between 2013 and 2017, data indicates that females with autism were four times more likely to commit suicide than neurotypical females. The drastic difference in numbers speaks volumes on the importance of breaking down the stigmas of mental health, especially for the neurodivergent. As the trend has seemingly increased, the statistics gathered by the end of the year can be predicted to report even higher numbers of suicides not just in the general population, but in neurodivergent individuals. Addressing these stigmas starts with us and as we continue to highlight the value of normalizing seeking help and opening up, we can create an environment where the neurodiverse community is no longer afraid to speak up and obtain the treatment they need in order to combat mental illness.
There are also many mental health and psychological conditions that also fall under the umbrella of neurodiversity. Some of the most prominent ones include Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Eating Disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Addiction, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar Disorder. Each of these have their own identifying characteristics and symptoms, and may require support or may lead to more severe consequences, such as suicide. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among those from ages 10-34, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and the fourth leading cause of death for those ages 35-54. It is in the top ten causes of death for all ages.
How to Get Help:
Fortunately, there are many resources available that can help with recovery. These resources are there to help anyone, so if struggling, please use them. Here, we have listed a few valuable hotlines, websites, and organizations. It is important to remember that this is not a completed list and many more likely exist and can be found with a little research.
Hotlines:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Crisis Text Line: text “HELLO” to 741741
NAMI Helpline: 800-950-NAMI
NAMI Text Line: text “NAMI” to 741741
Websites:
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness: contains detailed information about various mental health conditions, including possible symptoms, relevant statistics, treatments, and current research being done
https://www.mentalhealth.gov: presents basic facts and information about mental health and how to discuss it, symptoms of mental health disorders, and facts vs myths about mental health
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families: lists numerous mental health topics with their symptoms, risk factors, and possible treatments; also offers stories and personal experiences, and other informational content
Organizations:
National Alliance on Mental Illness: one of the largest mental health organizations in the U.S. focusing on improving the lives and conditions of those with mental illnesses; has blogs, personal stories and experiences, fast facts, and various graphics to help educate the community and support individuals with mental conditions
World Health Organization: Project Atlas is an initiative led by the WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse that compiles and distributed mental health resources that help for services and care
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: this is an agency run by the United States government’s Department of Health and Human Services that offers training for professionals working in mental health, education and treatment, and grants for programs providing mental health services
Mental Health America: this nonprofit contains various treatment services, general information, educational blogs, webinars, podcasts, and other resources to advocate and educate the public; they also offer mental health screenings and support programs that emphasize building a strong network
National Institute of Mental Health: a federal agency, NIMH offers the most reliable and up to date statistics on mental conditions, as well as thorough descriptions of various conditions; as a part of the National Institutes of Health, they also lead in mental health research
References:
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