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Comments I hear in children's mental health services

My work within NHS children's services for young people with a range of experiences including Autism regularly brings me into contact with mainstream mental health teams and clinical specialists focused on complex needs .

A colleague and I were reflecting yesterday on the sometimes shocking level of stereotyping and lack of understanding among this group of health professionals. Part of what we do is to provide consultation and training to other services, wherever possible involving people with Autism to describe their experiences first hand, which is often received well but some days it feels as though there is a long way to go.

Yesterday I mentioned 'Autism Bingo' where you wait to hear comments such as

"Its no big deal, we are all a little bit Autistic"
"I doubt that they are autistic, they like being around other people and they have a sense of humour"
"But they seem too emotional to be that"
"If they are Autistic this is what they will do/not do"

....and the current classic, said to a fellow clinician who like me is diagnosed with AS

"Well, because your Autistic the lockdown and staying in probably doesnt bother you too much"

We keep going in our attempts to enlighten and challenge stereotypes but as I say, there are some days that it seems like an up hill struggle. (Oops! I appear to have used an idiom there, perhaps they will take my diagnosis away. )

Comments

  • Oh, dear, I hear that kind of thing from regular people all the time, but these people actually work in the medical field? Mental health, mind you 😲

    "You don't look autistic" is my personal favourite as it's completely absurd and nobody managed to explain to me how autistic people are supposed to look 😖

    A friend of mine who went no/low contact with her abusive parents was diagnosed as an adult and her sister's first reaction was: "now you can't blame our parents anymore, there was something wrong with you all along", as if it's fine to abuse your children if they're autistic 😱

    People are unbelievable.

  • AmityAmity Administrator, Citizen

    Yes indeed, I can relate. Autism is still treated as a taboo label here.
    Ive disclosed to a few healthcare professionals, one psychotherapist and a GP, both of whom assured me that I couldn't be on the Autism Spectrum. The GP felt that it was best that I keep that information between us and opted to not record it on my file.
    The psychotherapist believed that I had been taken advantage of by one of "these" private clinical psychologists, too capable and my symptoms were easily explained by trauma. I think that one had the potential to do the most damage, thankfully I had a secure sense of self by that stage.

    Other GPs that were younger and recently trained had much better reactions, though I can tell when they see the diagnosis on my file now, their demeanor changes slightly and they seem uncomfortable.

  • On a more positive note I met with the parents of a recently diagnosed young person recently in order to discuss strategies for supporting her through acute mental health crises and helping her process her new Autism diagnosis. They both happened to be GP's. I found them insightful, considered and open to considering this from a different viewpoint to one of pathology. I am open about my own diagnosis when I do this kind of work as people often find it helpful to hear about the experience first hand. In this case their responsiveness and positivity became more apparent once I had told them. It was a refreshing.

  • AmityAmity Administrator, Citizen

    @Velorum said:
    On a more positive note I met with the parents of a recently diagnosed young person recently in order to discuss strategies for supporting her through acute mental health crises and helping her process her new Autism diagnosis. They both happened to be GP's. I found them insightful, considered and open to considering this from a different viewpoint to one of pathology. I am open about my own diagnosis when I do this kind of work as people often find it helpful to hear about the experience first hand. In this case their responsiveness and positivity became more apparent once I had told them. It was a refreshing.

    It is nice to hear the positive stories too Velorum,🙂 the therapist I went to for trauma didn't have experience with ASD in women, but he was willing to learn and do his own research which made the therapeutic relationship possible. He took it as a learning experience and has since worked with another ASD woman.
    I think perception depends on the personality and disposition of the professional.

  • verityverity Administrator, Citizen
    edited February 2021

    When I was diagnosed by the Maudsley, the Dr commented that I was smart enough to have figured out some social skills, etc.

    He said I was good looking man, so could do well for myself. I found this odd, as I felt he was dismissing the difficulties I've had. I wanted to focus on my connotative difficulties, and he wanted to filter me to social skills group and also was very keep for my for my data, such as blood test to be used in research.

    I'm not against research however they pestered me for it, and felt they hadn't tried to help me with specific issues I was having or even discuss them with me.

    When I came back for a brain scan, they pestered me again to hand over data. I said no becuase it felt like a research program posing as a care program and they weren't interested in listening to me.

    They actual found a cavernoma in my brain in the brain scan. they really wanted this information and my blood test to be included in this study and I was greeted a random research coming of the MRI trying to get my consent.

    I was referred back to the a neurologist how had previously removed a begin cyst growing into my cerebellum. This was detected from another scan, which wouldn't have happend if I hadn't perused these issues.

    I believe now it was also the matter of how I communicated, I was obsessed with this issue, but I had good reason to. I think they were more concerned with the pathology of thsi obsession than the issue itself.

    After more false starts this lead me to shun Doctors for many years, only goign when absolutely necessary.

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