Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are nine times more likely to die by suicide and think about suicide 10 times more often than adults in the general population. Despite this knowledge about adults, little is known about suicidality (thoughts of taking one's life, creating a plan, attempts) among youth with ASD (15-30 years) as youth are significantly underrepresented in research. With little research that has examined suicidality in youth with ASD, it is unknown how they perceive, understand and experience suicidality. Furthermore, little is known about the factors that contribute to, and or protect youth with ASD from suicidality, and potential similarities/differences among young men and women. This limited knowledge is an urgent concern as it is unknown how to support suicidal youth with ASD, provide adequate health care, or best ways to prevent suicide in this population. Given these gaps in knowledge, the study aims to: 1)Explore the perspectives, perceptions and experiences of suicidality among youth with ASD. 2)Understand the factors that contribute to or protect youth from suicidality. 3)Work with youth with ASD, families, and stakeholders to share knowledge, and work to inform policy and practice. This research will generate new knowledge to inform how suicidality is identified, examine how suicidality may be similar or different among young men and women with ASD, uncover the individual/social factors which influence suicidality, and illuminate the factors that may protect youth with ASD from suicidality. The research will contribute new knowledge to inform opportunities for prevention, intervention, and ways to promote mental health against the risk of suicide in youth with ASD. Study findings have the potential to uncover barriers to mental health care, and inform health policy to develop best practices aimed at supporting the mental health needs of youth with ASD.