What does it mean to be autistic, and how does autism change with age? These are just some of the questions we explore with our esteemed guest, Dr Tim Morris, a specialist in child psychiatry. Together, we’ll tackle diagnosing autism, discussing how it manifests differently in children, teenagers and adults. We focus on the two core components of autism - social communication difficulty and rigidity and explore the cultural, gender, and age-related variations of autism. Teenagers, in particular, face unique challenges as they navigate the social world with autism, and we delve into these complexities. Support organisations in the UK: Samaritans - mental health support and suicide prevention, call 116 123 any time for free or text SHOUT to 85258. Paprus - mental health support and suicide prevention Call 0800 068 4141 or text 07860 039967. Childline - support for children and young people and suicide prevention call 0800 1111. NSPCC - support to prevent or stop child abuse call 0808 800 5000. Young Minds - support for young people and parents/carers. Mind - mental health resources and support. Kooth - online support and counselling. MindEd - online educational resources on children, young people, adults and older adults' mental health. There are dedicated sections for parents and carers who are concerned regarding their child’s mental health. MindEd offers tips on parenting, advice and information from trusted experts and parents working together. MindEd is also an e-Learning resource for professionals across health, social care, education and youth justice settings.
