Module 11 – Autism and Suicide

Welcome to the NCAMH course on Autism and Suicide

• This two-day online training course introduces you to a “Model for understanding and supporting autistic people who self-harm or experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours.” 
• This course will ensure that you have access to the knowledge, skills and tools to both spot the signs and provide early tailored support.

There are seven lessons in this two day equivalent online training including:

• Understanding autism and self harm 
• Understanding autism and suicide 
• The impact of bullying, trauma and victimisation on autistic people
• Services and settings (the impact of lack of adjustments and opportunities)
• Autism and suicide (evidence based approaches to supporting autistic people who self-harm or experience STB (including reference to DBT, ACT and Positive Psychological approaches)
• Two lessons focused on introducing you to 15 adjusted resources/tools that you can use in your own practice when supporting autistic people (and their families).  The resources are focused on creating safety and increasing awareness and regulation (incorporating DBT, ACT and Positive Psychology tools adjusted for supporting autistic people).

The resources section includes a tool focused on, “spotting the signs of distress” amongst autistic people, incorporating a visual resource for increasing awareness.  There is also an overarching Safety Plan resource pack which links to each of the individual worksheets which provide concrete examples and visuals to support safety planning.  

There is a strong emphasis in this module on further developing the inside out understanding of why an autistic person may self harm or attempt suicide, including alexithymia and low interoceptive awareness. 

Lack of awareness around felt safety can present risks, so understanding what safety looks like and how this may be experienced in relationships and online communities is an important part of our work as practitioners – there are many resources which will support you in this work, which you can also share with families.

All the resources are focused on increasing self-awareness alongside introducing strategies for promoting safety, self-advocacy,  co-regulation, self-soothing, autonomy and self-agency.

We are joined in this module by Emily Katy, autistic female and author of the sunday times bestseller, “Girl unmasked”, and Asher Jenner, who talk to us about their own experiences of self-harming and feeling suicidal when navigating life in a neurotypical world.  In these podcast interviews each person shares useful tips on what is important to be aware of and how to adjust practice when supporting autistic people. 

We also interview Dr Amy Pearson, author of autistic masking who talks to us about her research focused on autism and interpersonal victimisation (often leading to self harming and suicidal thoughts). We also talk to Jess Alborough from the Anti Bullying Alliance about their good practice anti bullying guide for schools when supporting autistic people. 

The seven lessons in this course are made up of a mixture of tutor-led sessions, podcasts, additional video clips, articles, worksheets/exercises, review of resources and completion of reflective practice worksheets.

You will be able to access the course handouts, workbooks and reflective practice worksheets from the welcome and introduction page.  You can access any worksheets, tools and resources from within the Lesson on the learning management platform.

I wish you well with the course,

Warmest wishes

Jenny Phaure

Clinical Director

MA (Child and Ad Psych, UKCP), MSc

National Centre for Autism and Mental Health

www.ncamh.co.uk

Phone: 07545 190915