Neurodiversity
This article was written by an anonymous guest author This post references: UN Special Rapporteur on Torture UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities UK Mental Health Act (1983) We are at a pivotal crossroads on our path towards a fairer society, faced with a monumental issue that,
Mental Health
"The first thing you need to understand about specialist mental health services in the UK is that they don't really use a prevention model for intervention. Instead, they use a crisis-driven intervention model that only begins work with you when you are deeply suffering. This was particularly proble
Autistic Rights
TW: the content of this article may be upsetting to some. In this article, David looks at the statistics and law that surround the practice of detaining Autistic people under the Mental Health Act and why it paints such a worrying picture.
Society
When we think of mental health services, I'm sure a lot of images are called to mind. Some people might imagine the institutions of days gone by, where people in significant states of dysregulation under the watchful eye of orderlies, nurses, and doctors. Others might think of therapy
Trauma
"For as long as we've existed, psychological distress has been ignored in us. I often think of my own 14 year journey to get a schizophrenia diagnosis from psychiatrists who would tell me I was "just anxious" and that anxiety was "normal" in autism. Normal. Professionals have come to see our sufferi
Addiction
I am really excited to tell you all that I ha e published a new book! Unusual Medicine: Essays on Autistic identity and drug addiction This book explores my personal experiences with being Autistic and addicted to drugs and alcohol. It considers my recovery and what was unique about my
Autistic Rights
As I have mentioned in previous articles (which can be found here and here), there is an ongoing petition which at the time of writing has over 180,000 signatures. This petition was started because of the ongoing issue with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) refusing to
Autistic Rights
The word "advocate" is used widely in the Autistic community. Within this community it generally refers to a person who publicly speaks out on matters of civil rights. However, there is a much deeper meaning to the word advocate that brings with it an understanding of where the
Autistic Rights
Let me start by being candid. This is the third time in the past seven days that I have had to write an article like this. We've had an expose on the inhuman treatment of Autistic people in psychiatric inpatient units and let's not forget that
Autistic Rights
This evening, I took it upon myself to watch Channel 4's documentary on the abuse of Autistic people in psychiatric institutions. As I sit here reflecting on the way the Autistic participants were treated by those meant to care for them, I will confess that I have shed
Autism
I have had extensive therapy, as one might expect for a recovering drug addict who is also Schizophrenic. I have had mindfulness therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I've had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, trauma therapy, psychoanalytic therapy. I've also had courses of therapy that use mixed approaches.
Mental Health
I recently wrote an article about my experiences as a former patient of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service). In this article, I spoke about the effect that failing to support me properly had on my developing individuality and the immense suffering it led to in my early adult