Researchers from La Trobe University have launched a world-leading toolkit for healthcare professionals to better identify and support Autistic adults at risk of suicide.

One in three Autistic people experience suicidal thoughts, and Autistic people are significantly more likely to die by suicide than the general population - among the highest rate of any priority group.

Dr Claire Brown, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at La Trobe’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, who led the project to develop the Suicide Prevention for Autism Neuro-affirming Toolkit (span.tookit), said Autistic adults in distress were often overlooked in healthcare settings.

“Autistic adults often face unrecognised mental health pressures and barriers to accessing timely and effective, autism-informed care,” Dr Brown said.

“When Autistic adults in mental health distress or during suicidal crises seek help, inconsistent screening, assessment and a lack of clinician confidence mean their suicidal thoughts or behaviour can be missed or dismissed.

“Our toolkit addresses current gaps in practice by providing health care professionals with validated neuro-affirming tools to improve understanding, communication, screening and support for Autistic adults at risk of suicide.”

Dr Brown, who was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship from Suicide Prevention Australia, worked with the Autistic community and healthcare professionals to co-design the span.toolkit.

The toolkit includes educational and training videos, easy-to-read fact sheets, autism-adapted suicide screening and assessment instruments and safety plans. Training takes around two hours and screening a patient can take as little as 10 minutes.

Dr Brown said the peer-reviewed tools had performed strongly in extensive testing to identify suicidal thoughts and behaviour in Autistic people and were already in use across Australia.

Monash Health Deputy Operations Manager in the Mental Health Program, Robyn Humphries OAM, who is featured in the toolkit, led recent work to integrate autism expertise into mainstream practice at the health service.

“Investing time and resources in this work has been incredibly effective at reducing the level of psychological distress and the need for emergency services.

“Decisions about treatment and support start with assessing suicide risk, which means asking the right questions. Autism-adapted tools help us to do that.”

The use of autism-adapted tools supports the work of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, which called for accessible systems, better quality and safety in health care, and improved training and workforce skills.

The span.toolkit was developed by researchers, mental health professionals and lived-experience experts from La Trobe University, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, Amaze, Aspect, Australian National University, Barwon Health, Bournemouth University, Deakin University, Different Journeys, Monash Health, Monash University, Roses in the Ocean, UNSW, University of Nottingham and Yellow Ladybugs.

Learn how to use the tools at: www.spantoolkit.com.

If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line) on 13 11 14.