Thread by @Sarah_NottsUni

I found another person working to understand #suicide in #autistic people at #iasp2019! Kairi Kolves from Griffith Uni describing a national longitudinal register based study. We need more large scale studies, it’s encouraging to see more of this research taking place worldwide

Over 35,000 autistic people included in the national study in Belgium compared to 6million in the gen pop. Looked at suicidal behaviour and death by suicide and role of diagnosis, age, and sex.

Rate of death by suicide highest in those diagnosed with Asperger syndrome compared to other subtypes (similar finding to other work) #IASP2019

Suicidal behaviour significantly higher in autistic females than autistic males. Differences in risk factors for suicide attempts and death by suicide in autistic ppl compared to gen pop. Autistic people tend to be older, less likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric condition.

After controlling for all these and other factors, autistic people are more at risk of suicide than the general population. Autistic females most at risk consistent with other national studies #IASP2019

There’s lots more important data in this study which I just couldn’t tweet fast enough! #iasp2019