Understanding and Working with Autistic Young People with Co-Occurring Mental Health Challenges

Understanding and Working with Autistic Young People with Co-Occurring Mental Health Challenges

This two-day workshop will be helpful for a broad range of mental health practitioners and lived experience peer workers, who are wanting an introduction to working with autistic young people with co-occurring mental health challenges.

Autistic young people experience mental health challenges at a higher rate than the general population. This workshop will explore the features of autism in young people, including the identification of autism in a youth mental health population, together with common co-occuring mental health conditions. Methods for engaging autistic young people in assessment and treament will be explored, including risk, engagement and therapeutic modifications.

At the completion of this two-day workshop, you will be able to:

  • identify the features of autism in young people, including gender differences and understand the role of screening tools and pathways for formal assessment.
  • identify interpersonal and social challenges common in autistic young people.
  • formulate how autism might predispose a young person to experience mental health difficulties and specific suicide risk factors.
  • adapt therapeutic engagement, case formulation and treatment planning to be autism friendly, including involving families, modifying risk management and intervention skills.

Day 1 - Wednesday 5th March 2025

Day 2 - Thursday 6th March 2025

This workshop will be held online via Zoom.


Registration