Are mental health teams qualified to diagnose autism?

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Hey all - last week my mum had me see the doctor because she's worried about my mental health. Long story short: I finished school 3 years ago, and I haven't done anything with my life since then; I shut myself in my room all day playing video games and listening to music and I hardly ever leave the house unless prompted (e.g. My Mum asks me to go shopping with her or we see a movie as a family ).

I've been doing a lot of research lately, and I believe I may be on the autism spectrum as I identify with a lot of the traits, especially female specific ones.

I went to the doctor and filled out a small questionnaire and she told me I scored high for anxiety and moderate for depression. I didn't mention autism as I didn't really get a chance to and I wasn't sure if it would be relevant. She has referred to me to the mental health team at a local community hospital for a mental health assessment (I'm from the UK so I don't know what the process is for those elsewhere) and I have to make an appointment by Friday.

Now I'm stressing out because I don't think my needs will be met - I'm not sure if mental health teams are qualified to deal with autism so I'm worried that they'll misdiagnose me with something that I don't have (especially with me being a woman and the signs not being as obvious), and I'll be wasting a lot of precious time. I'm also worried that if I mention autism they'll refer me to a specialist, and I really don't want to have to do two assessments; I find it really difficult to know how to talk about my feelings and get out what I'm trying to say, so having to do it twice will stress me out.

If I don't make an appointment by Friday, they assume I don't want one and they inform my GP, so should I leave it and go back to my GP and try and get referred to a specialist, or should I go anyway and mention that I think I may be autistic and hope for the best?

Hi I am also a female in the UK.

You don't state how old you are, but I'm only 17 and so on CAMHS.

Long story short I was in hospital and about to be put in the psych ward for the night because they thought I was suicidal since I hurt myself but they decided it was autism without my parents or I suggesting it so moved me over to that part of CAMHS instead.

Since they managed to see symptoms in me in a place it wouldn't usually be relevant I'd say they're qualified enough in autism.

And I dunno if girls show it less.

But I guess you can bring up those traits you identify with and let them piece it together instead.

I am really bad at giving advice, I'd wait until someone smarter replies

In assessment for autism they know we're bad at explaining things so I wouldn't worry about it. And they can only find it out in assessment. I guess you're worrying because you have anxiety. They think I have anxiety but if I do it's mild.

Oh I also figured out you're 21. Sorry I missed that.

I think the mental health people will know what they're doing, though. I wouldn't worry about being misdiagnosed.

Thank you so much for your help, I feel a lot better about it now! I think I'll make the appointment sometime this week, but I'm so scared because I absolutely hate using the phone

Thanks again!

I helped?

Good luck, hope things go well It is scary at first but it will get better, I'm sure. You can always come here for advice if it doesn't go how you expect, the people on this site are nice and helpful, it's a good place to be