Editorial: More must be done to solve autism mental health crisis

Losing a child is a grief no parent should have to endure. Losing two in the space of just seven months is an agony that is unimaginable to comprehend. That’s the reality for Bunbury mum Michelle. Her eldest son Xavier was just 21 when he died by suicide in October. Xavier’s death came just months after his little brother Jye took his own life in March. The twin tragedies have left the South West reeling, and Michelle shattered. Xavier and Jye are linked by more than just blood. They also shared a diagnosis of autism. Michelle is now on a mission to raise awareness that autism is a key risk factor for suicide. In doing so, she hopes she might help prevent her seven-year-old son, who is also autistic, from suffering the same tragic fate. Navigating the mental health crises of loved ones’ is always difficult. But when that loved one has autism, and as such has difficulty expressing emotions, or expresses emotions differently than their neurotypical peers, the problems can be compounded. Michelle said there were “no signs” Xavier was struggling before his death. “And he just didn’t talk about emotion, or express emotions at all,” she said. “I just really need parents to be aware of the higher risk if their children don’t show emotions and they don’t show how they’re feeling generally, so depression looks the same.” La Trobe University autism and suicide prevention expert Darren Hedley says research suggests autistic people have up to a five-fold increased risk of dying by suicide compared with the general population. And yet many people with autism find it difficult to receive help from mental help professionals, in part because of a lack of quality screening assessments. The system is failing kids like Jye and Xavier. Hopefully, through the bravery of their mother, our policy makers and mental health professionals can step up to tackle this crisis. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by WAN Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie