Neurodiversity
"How do I help my Autistic child?"
Read this article if you are wondering what pieces of information may be most likely to help you support your Autistic child!
David Gray-Hammond
Healthcare
CAMHS don't just deny Autistic children support by not seeing them
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are the main providers of mental health support for children and young people on the UK. Despite this, many Autistic people and their families find that they are turned away from these services because CAMHS are not equipped to work with us. Autism,
Autistic Rights
CAMHS misdiagnosed my Autistic burnout and it endangered my safety
For anyone who has been following my writing recently, you will be aware that there is an ongoing campaign regarding the failings of Child and Adolescent Mental health Services (CAMHS). In particular, there has been a great deal of discussion around the fact that they will often refuse to see
philosophy
Yes, being Autistic does define me
Some years ago, I wrote a similar article for Neuroclastic. I thought perhaps now was the time to revisit the topic with several years more experience under my belt. Too many times I have been told not to let my "autism" define me, that I am something other
Mental Health
Alexithymia and Autistic Burnout: Too tired to feel it
Autistic burnout is perpetually a hot topic (pun intended) within the Autistic community. From the earliest stages of our discovery journey through to the people who are seasoned veterans of the neurodiversity movement; burnout is an issue prevalent for any Autistic person currently in existence. Unfortunately, we often use observational
Trauma
Autistic Parenting: Supporting our Autistic children's mental health when services won't
This article was co-authored by David Gray-Hammond and Katie Munday There is an ongoing crisis in services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) when it comes to Autistic young people's mental health. Failing to support our Autistic young people can have a big impact on
Neurodiversity
I was an Autistic psychiatric inpatient: Here's what I would change in the mental health system
Autistic people are exposed to inordinately high rates of trauma and mistreatment. It is unsurprising then that a large portion of us develop mental health struggles. Where there are concerns around mental health, there are also issues regarding inpatient treatment, both voluntary and involuntary, under the UK's Mental
Neurodiversity
Why is the Autistic community so important for Autistic people?
Autism is often conceptualised as a condition which nullifies a person's ability to socialise. Because of this, Autistic people are often viewed as asocial and devoid of community. Despite this, the Autistic community is a rich and vibrant place with a sociality all of it's own
Autism
Hyper-empathy, mirror-touch synesthesia, and the Autistic experience of pain
Autism is often conceptualised as a neurocognitive style that leaves a person entirely more concerned with their needs than the needs of others. Autistic people, in particular (when compared to attitudes around non-Autistic people), are often positioned as lacking emotional and cognitive empathy. However, for some Autistic people, their experience
Mental Health Treatment Rights
The NHS wants to put surveillance equipment in psychiatric wards: Here's what's wrong with that
Psychiatric wards are a challenging environment for patients. Staff often forget that they work where a person is very often forced to live for an extended period of time. At the best of times, patients on psychiatric wards can feel very restricted, with some being monitored on a one-to-one basis
Trauma
How common is psychosis for Autistic people?
It's no secret that the list of co-occurring traits and conditions that fall within the world of autism is exceptionally long. Autistic people tend to be multiply neurodivergent as well as having various health concerns. Despite this, there are certain aspects of Autistic experience that are not well
Neurodiversity
CAMHS is not fit for supporting Autistic young people: Here is the evidence
It's no secret in the Autistic community that autism is a deciding factor in the success of a young person's referral to CAMHS. For a long time, Autistic people and their families have been speaking out against the practice of gatekeeping of services and diagnostic overshadowing