Suicide prevention for autistic people

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Mental health difficulties are experienced by up to 80% of autistic adults, and depression and anxiety in this population are associated with suicidal thoughts, behaviours, and sometimes even death from suicide (Kolves et al., 2021). Autism spectrum conditions also remain over-represented in the figures of individuals who die from suicide each year. Globally, it’s estimated that there are around 700,000 deaths by suicide among autistic individuals each year (WHO, 2021). Cassidy et al. (2021) suggest that evidence of autism or possible autism is present in about 41% of those who die, but a theory that accurately captures the experience of suicidal thoughts among autistic individuals remains absent.