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How People with Autism Access Mental Health Services Specifically Suicide Hotlines and Crisis Support Services, and Current Approaches to Mental Health Care: A Scoping Review.

Michelle ClearySancia WestGlenn E HuntLoyola Mary McLeanCatherine HungerfordRachel A Kornhaber
Published in: Issues in mental health nursing (2022)
For people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the risk of mental illness, including suicidality, has a higher prevalence than the general population. This scoping review explored how people with ASD access suicide hotlines/crisis support services; and current approaches to delivering mental health services (MHS) to people with ASD. A search identified 28 studies meeting the selection criteria with analysis revealing four key findings. The support received by the person with ASD influenced how they accessed MHS; people often encounter barriers to accessing MHS; a separation exists between autism and MHS; and no studies on accessing or delivering MHS through crisis hotlines. The presence of such autism-specific crisis hotlines and the dearth of studies suggest a void in the existing research.
Keyphrases
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • intellectual disability
  • public health
  • mental illness
  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • mental health
  • healthcare
  • case control
  • primary care
  • risk factors
  • affordable care act