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Autistic and/or ADHD Adults Mental Health Support Experiences

Autistic and/or ADHD Adults Mental Health Support Experiences

Exploring the Experiences of Autistic and/or ADHD Adults in Accessing and Engaging with Mental Health Support Services

The study aims to understand the experiences of neurodivergent adults (those who identify as autistic and/or ADHD) when accessing and engaging with mental health support services.

We are interested in learning about your interactions with these services and how they align with your needs and preferences. Your insights will be valuable in understanding how mental health support services function for neurodivergent individuals.

Mental health Support includes any services or support that help with your psychological and emotional well-being. This can include:

Healthcare professionals (like GPs, psychiatrists, nurses)
Mental health professionals (like psychologists, counsellors, and social workers)
Allied health professionals (like exercise physiologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists)
Qualified support workers (like ADHD coaches, support workers, and case managers)
Peer support workers or lived experience supporters
Crisis support services (like helplines, text support, online chat)

Most importantly, if something has helped or was intended to help your psychological and emotional well-being, whether it's listed here or not, we consider this mental health support and want to hear about your experience.

Eligibility Requirements

This study is open to individuals who are:

18 years or older,
who self-identify as Autistic and/or ADHD (formal diagnoses, self-diagnoses, and in the process of being diagnosed are all welcome),
who have accessed mental health support services within the past five years. and
able to provide informed consent and communicate in English.

If you have any questions about your eligibility or need accommodations to participate, please contact the researcher:

michelle.emery@mymail.unisa.edu.au.

Benefits

We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this research; however, possible benefits may include contributing to research that centre neurodivergent voices and validates your perspective. Furthermore, having a platform to share your personal experiences of accessing and engaging with mental health support services can be empowering.

By sharing your experiences, you can help shape mental health services to be more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of neurodivergent individuals. This could lead to positive changes in the way mental health services are designed and delivered, potentially benefiting both the participants and others in the neurodivergent community.