Mental health crisis among autism community, conference to hear

Minding Autistic Minds co-ordinator Evaleen Whelton said 'we need to educate people to meet people with curiosity and kindness instead of judgement'. Picture: Darragh Kane

Healthcare and barriers to employment will be among the topics addressed at a unique conference organised by and for autistic people.

Co-ordinated by Evaleen Whelton, Minding Autistic Minds is bringing together autistic people from across Ireland to highlight what they describe as a mental health crisis impacting the community.

It comes under the umbrella of AUsome Training which is run by autistic people across a spectrum of disciplines.

Ms Whelton said that mental health has become a major concern, with 80% of autistic people struggling with anxiety. Some 60% are believed to be affected by depression while 30% meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, she said.

The two-day event in Kildare, starting on Wednesday, will be a mix of mental health workshops and talks provided by autistic and neurodivergent speakers.

They include psychotherapist, counsellor, and author Eoin Stephens, occupational therapist and clinical director Katie Kerley, and author and researcher Kieran Rose.

The conference is geared at professionals who support autistic people in addition to schools, parents, and caregivers.

Ms Whelton spoke of how coping mechanisms adopted over the years can contribute to mental health issues in autistic people. One of the strategies to which she referred is masking, which involves the suppression of genuine emotion for integration purposes. She said this can result in harm to mental health.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner about her own experience of masking, she said it is complex.

“In the past if I was having a conversation with someone and they asked me what my favourite colour or favourite music was, I would just make something up. I actually didn’t even know what music I liked because it wasn’t something I ever explored. I just liked what other people liked.

'Risk analysis'

“If someone asked me a question as simple as that I would literally run through scenarios in my head. It’s like you’re constantly doing this risk analysis. 

"I would come up with an answer that I thought they wanted. You are doing this every second which puts your brain under a lot of pressure.”

She highlighted the objective of the organisation.

“We are trying to challenge the norm and provide alternatives. People are looking for alternatives so we, as a small business, are trying to provide them.”

She said society still has a long way to go in terms of its treatment of autistic people.

“You do feel like you don’t fit in and you do feel different. However, it’s society that is making you feel this way. If you express your mind and get a negative reaction, this is happening to people whether we know we are autistic or not.

“We need to educate people to meet people with curiosity and kindness instead of judgement.”

The Minding Autistic Minds conference can be attended in person or online.

• www.ausometraining.com
  
  This article was edited on April 25, 2024 to say 'autistic people' throughout (replacing two references to 'people with autism').