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Charity warns about the high autism suicide rates
National autistic society responds to recent report
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Monday 17th August 2026 |
The final report focusing on people with a learning disability and autistic people has been published recently, prompting a very strong response from leading charities.
The report reveals that suicide continues to be the highest cause of death for autistic people who do not have a learning disability, accounting for one third of all such tragic deaths.
According to the charity, sixty-six percent of autistic adults experience suicidal thoughts, which is nine times higher than the general population.
The head of policy and influencing at the charity stated that the situation is completely devastating and must change immediately.
The organisation is calling on the government to address the disproportionately high representation of autistic people in its suicide prevention strategy and strongly supports the recommendation for a targeted national action plan.
There are also significant concerns that the conclusion of this national report could mean an end to crucial national recommendations moving forward.
Responsibility may shift to local areas that currently lack sufficient resources and accountability to manage these issues.
This shift could further endanger the lives of autistic people by removing a vital layer of national oversight and essential guidance.
The charity urges immediate and sustained action to ensure that adequate support systems remain actively in place across the entire country.
Source: National Autistic Society (UK)
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/
Further reading, listening and viewing...
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