Atypical Autistic Suicidel tendencies?

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ASPartOfMe
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26 Sep 2017, 11:14 pm

Suicidal tendencies hard to spot in some people with autism

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The statistics around suicide in people with autism are startling: Up to 50 percent of adults with the condition have considered ending their own lives, a rate two to three times that seen in the general population.

Adults newly diagnosed with autism are particularly at risk, having spent decades feeling atypical without knowing why2. Rates of suicide attempts and death are also elevated among individuals on the spectrum.

In the general population, we often think of suicidality as going hand in hand with depression. Although depression does emerge as the leading predictor of suicidality in people with autism, there is mounting evidence that a substantial proportion of people on the spectrum who contemplate suicide would not meet the criteria for depression

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some people with autism approach suicide practically, even dispassionately — as a valid plan when nothing has worked to help them fit into this world. Others struggle with rigid thinking and poor impulse control, making them susceptible to suicidal tendencies during difficult situations or negative moods.


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B19
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26 Sep 2017, 11:46 pm

The diagnosed-as-adults population here seem more commonly to report relief rather than suicidal feelings as a result of receiving the diagnosis, so I do have some doubts about those claims. However adults in their 20s may form a subgroup here who don't take it so well, particularly males in their twenties. I think there are very definite gender differences.



ASPartOfMe
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27 Sep 2017, 1:12 am

B19 wrote:
The diagnosed-as-adults population here seem more commonly to report relief rather than suicidal feelings as a result of receiving the diagnosis, so I do have some doubts about those claims. However adults in their 20s may form a subgroup here who don't take it so well, particularly males in their twenties. I think there are very definite gender differences.


Maybe WP is a bubble.


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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
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rowan_nichol
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27 Sep 2017, 9:56 am

Possibly the many WP members diagnosed were to greater or lesser extent in charge of that process though having those first suspicions and making the choice to follow them up.