Autism: Getting a Handle on Suicide

While the research clearly indicates a link between autistic traits and suicidal thoughts and idealizations, some treatment providers are also noting that identifying these thoughts in autistic individuals can be extremely difficult. At this point, depression is the leading co-indicator of suicidal thoughts in autistic individuals, but some emerging studies are suggesting this may not be the case. The research certainly doesn’t indicate that depression doesn’t matter at all, as depressed individuals are at a greater risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts, but some studies are indicating that some autistic individuals who do not display any symptoms of depression may also be at a high risk.