Information on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health problems can be more common in people with autism than in neurotypicals. Conditions such as anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be prevalent.
https://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/mental-health.aspx
Talking Space Plus is a free NHS service and offer talking therapies. You can self-refer to the service. They offer talking therapies for Depression/Low Mood, Anxiety, Panic, Social Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Health Anxiety, Phobias, Insomnia, Low Self Esteem, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
You can apply for their service here.
Oxfordshire Mind offers a variety of services. In Oxfordshire they offer groups and workshops, peer support, information, a benefits service and housing.
The National Mind website has a lot of information about mental health conditions and some suggested coping strategies.
Autistica, an autism research charity, has produced these helpful tips for managing mental health during the Coronavirus.
Types of Therapy
Please click on each of the links below to learn more:
CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
DBT – Dialectic Behavioural Therapy
EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
NET – Narrative Exposure Therapy
ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
N0t all of these therapies are available on the NHS. If you do choose private therapy, the National Autistic Society website has an autism services directory here where you can search for specific types of therapy.
Meditation
Meditation has been shown to help people stress less, focus more and even sleep better. Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing.
Headspace is meditation app to help practice mindfulness meditation. The first 10 sessions are free then there is a subscription cost.
There are lots of free mindful mediation videos on YouTube.
Mental Health Services
- Mental Health Services List
- Mental Health flow chart
- Oxfordshire Mind run courses, workshops and peer support https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/
- Talkingspace Plus, Talking therapy to help with anxiety and depression https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/talkingspaceplus/
For information on mental health and wellbeing please click on the links under the section titles for more information.
Addiction and Alcohol Services
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
ADHD is a common co-cormidity of autism. If you think you may have ADHD, or you have been told you might have ADHD or ADD, in order to obtain an NHS diagnosis, you will need to be referred to the local ADHD diagnostic service by your GP. There are also many service which offer private assessments (however, prices may vary, so it is worth getting a few different quotes).
Dyslexia
The Royal National Institute for the Blind has a ‘Talking Books’ library, which individuals with dyslexia are able to access to help them to be able to engage with books. In order to use this service, please visit this page on the RNIB website for further details and to request access to this great resource.
Autism and Hospital/GP Appointments
If you are autistic and find attending GP and/or hospital appointments difficult, you are able to request reasonable adjustments. Here is an example of a completed reasonable adjustment passport recognised by Oxfordshire Hospitals. You can replace the information in red with your own personal details and adjustments.
You are also able to contact the Learning Disability Liason Team using the details here. They will be able to offer you some support, particularly if you are in hospital frequently.
If you need an advocate to help you around medical treatment, you can find an independent advocate here.
If you are looking for some easy read resources in order to better understand a medical procedure or condition, please follow this link to be taken to the Easy Health website.