Ashworth Emma, Bray Lucy, Hanlon Claire, Stanway Harvey, Pavlopoulou Georgia, Moore David, Donaghy Bethany, Coen Elizabeth, Firth Ellen
Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
Edge Hill University, UK.
Autism. 2025 Apr 30:13623613251335715. doi: 10.1177/13623613251335715.
Autistic children and young people are at increased risk of mental health difficulties, but often face barriers when seeking help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. This study aimed to (1) explore the experiences of parents/carers seeking help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for their autistic child's mental health difficulties, and (2) gain parents' perceptions of the accessibility of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for their child. A mixed-methods survey design was used. In total, 300 parents/carers took part from across the United Kingdom. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data using qualitative content analysis. Findings demonstrated ongoing struggles that parents/carers faced when seeking help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Those who were referred reported a lack of reasonable adjustments and offers of ineffective or inappropriate therapies. Ultimately, parents felt their child's mental health difficulties either did not improve or declined to the point of crisis. However, there was a recognition that some professionals were kind and compassionate. There is a need for a more neuro-inclusive and personalised approach in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Further research, funding and training are urgently needed to ensure support is accessible, timely and effective for autistic young people.Lay abstractAutistic children and young people are more likely to experience mental health difficulties than neurotypical peers, but also face more barriers when seeking help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Findings highlight the need for a more neuroaffirmative approach from the professionals themselves, in the adjustments offered, and in the therapies provided. Barriers to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for autistic children and young people include diagnostic overshadowing (i.e. assuming mental health difficulties are part of autism), high thresholds for assessment and a lack of professional knowledge about autism and care pathways. Healthcare policies should ensure that all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services professionals receive neuroaffirmative training and that resources/funding are provided for appropriate adjustments and early support. There is also a need for further research and funding to develop and evaluate effective neuroaffirmative therapeutic interventions.
自闭症儿童和青少年出现心理健康问题的风险更高，但在向儿童和青少年心理健康服务机构寻求帮助时往往面临障碍。本研究旨在：（1）探讨父母/照顾者为其患有自闭症的孩子的心理健康问题向儿童和青少年心理健康服务机构寻求帮助的经历；（2）了解父母对儿童和青少年心理健康服务机构为其孩子提供服务的可及性的看法。采用了混合方法调查设计。共有来自英国各地的300名父母/照顾者参与。定量数据采用描述性统计进行分析，定性数据采用定性内容分析。研究结果表明，父母/照顾者在向儿童和青少年心理健康服务机构寻求帮助时持续面临困难。那些被转诊的人报告称缺乏合理的调整措施，且提供的治疗无效或不恰当。最终，父母觉得孩子的心理健康问题要么没有改善，要么恶化到了危机程度。然而，也认识到一些专业人员友善且富有同情心。儿童和青少年心理健康服务机构需要采取更具神经包容性和个性化的方法。迫切需要进一步的研究、资金和培训，以确保为自闭症青少年提供可及、及时且有效的支持。
自闭症儿童和青少年比神经发育正常的同龄人更易出现心理健康问题，在向儿童和青少年心理健康服务机构寻求帮助时也面临更多障碍。研究结果凸显了专业人员自身、所提供的调整措施以及所提供的治疗方法都需要采取更具神经肯定性的方法。自闭症儿童和青少年获得儿童和青少年心理健康服务的障碍包括诊断遮蔽（即认为心理健康问题是自闭症的一部分）、评估门槛高以及缺乏关于自闭症和护理途径的专业知识。医疗保健政策应确保所有儿童和青少年心理健康服务专业人员接受神经肯定性培训，并为适当的调整措施和早期支持提供资源/资金。还需要进一步的研究和资金来开发和评估有效的神经肯定性治疗干预措施。
