mental health and development Flashcards
why can it be difficult to diagnose autistic people with mental health problems?
many characteristics of autism and mental health overlap
when were mental health difficulties first described?
in Kanner’s clinical reports describing autism in the 1940s
what prevelance of the UK experience a mental health problem?
23%
what is the most common mental health problem?
depression
what percentage of autistic people experience mental health problems?
79%
how can environmental risk factors impact autism?
eg) stress/bereavement/finances/bullying/unemployment
autistic adults significantly more likely to report difficult life experiences than non-autistic adults (Griffiths et al, 2019)
how can societal risk factors impact autism?
attitudes/stigma/poverty
experience difficulties, particularly interacting with non-autistic people, leads to the double empathy problem
people are more at risk of loneliness
how can biological risk factors impact autism?
genetic predisposition/brain structure/function
how can psychological factors impact autism?
different thinking style/coping strategies
have difficulties with thinking of alternatives, or finding solutions to difficult situations/moods
what are protective factors?
characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes
what are social challenges for people with autism?
autistic people struggle to interact with the neurotypical majority
who suggested autistic people tend to be perceived negatively by non autistic people?
Sasson et al, 2017
who suggested autistic people are less readable by non-autistic people?
Alkhaldi et al, 2019
how do autistic people cope with situations?
camouflaging/masking
what are the three aspects of camouflaging?
assimilation
compensation
masking
what is assimilation?
motivation for camouflaging, in order to be considered safe and a functioning member of society