Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Resources for Autistic People
If you or someone else is in a mental health crisis or at immediate risk of serious harm or danger , for any reason, including their mental health, you must contact the emergency Services:
You can either phone 999 or get the person at risk to an accident and emergency (A&E) department at a hospital.
Note: not all hospitals have A&E, so check first if you are not sure
If you can’t do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.
If it’s not an immediate emergency but you have urgent mental health concerns, you can call NHS 111 and press option 2.
You will be put through to a qualified call handler, who will be able to give you the advice and support you need.
This service is totally free and confidential and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week
It is for all ages – so you can call this number if you are a parent or carer and need urgent mental health advice and support for a child or young person.
Alternatively, you can visit https://111.nhs.uk/ and follow the on screen instructions. This service is also staffed by the same qualified call handlers. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is free and confidential.
If you would prefer a text-based conversation, send a text to:
This is the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust service that offers mental health advice in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for people of all ages.
It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will get a response within 12 hours.
Please note that the NHS 111 and text services are not emergency services
Wherethere is an immediate, serious and life-threatening emergency, you must call 999 or attend A and E
Otherwise take a look at the extensive range of support services and resources available to support mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Please note, many of these services are not autism specific. You may find it helpful to tell the person you speak to that you are autistic. Explain what they can do to help you, e.g. use clear language, speak slowly to give you time to process information, give opportunities for you to ask questions to clarify your understanding.
General resources to support with mental health and emotional wellbeing
Specialist autism team mental health and wellbeing guide
It has been commissioned by our local Integrated Care Board and is available for anyone aged 11+ living within Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
Tellmi is cost free and operates 365 days a year (on Android, IOS, and the web).
It enables people to help themselves by helping each other. The Tellmi community is anonymous and age-banded. All posts and replies are risk assessed by moderators and counsellors intervene when high-risk posts are made.
You can use filters to have conversations about particular topics such as autism or anxiety – or both.
For those seeking additional help, Tellmi offers 1-2-1 text-based, solution-focused therapy with a qualified therapist. This aims to help people think positively about their future and to identify their existing skills and strengths.
You can refer yourself for the 1:1 text-based therapy sessions by clicking the link below.
For a child or young person, a referral can be made by parents, carers or professionals.
Anyone over 16 living in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland can self-refer to Vita Health Group. This is a free service that offers talking therapy to help with range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, panic, sleep difficulties, OCD, trauma. They have interventions in various formats – such as 1:1, group, video call, telephone call.
Mental health text support service. This service is free, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Text SHOUT to 85258
https://giveusashout.org/
Sane
Offers support to anyone with a mental health problem or who is supporting someone else. The helpline is a confidential service for anyone aged 16 or over.
They are available from 4:30pm – 10:30pm every day. Please note your phone provider may charge you to use this service.
Telephone: 0300 304 7000
Mind
Offer a safe space for you to talk about your mental health. They can also signpost you to other services so that you receive the most appropriate support. Lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). This is not a crisis service. Calls from UK landlines are charged at local rates. Charges from mobile phones vary.
Telephone: 0300 102 1234
https://www.mind.org.uk/
Calm
CALM’s website has a helpline and a live chat that are open from 5pm to midnight everyday, 365 days a year. Suitable for all ages
https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
Clare and me
Clare is artificial intelligence that gives you a safe space to speak your mind freely by listening and asking questions. You’ll be guided through self-reflective exercises & grounding techniques. Suitable for 18+ years old only
https://www.clareandme.com/
Relate
Relate provides free Family Counselling, Individual Counselling, Online and Telephone Counselling, Relationship Counselling and Sex Therapy. TEXT 07566 819842 for more information. Telephone: 0116 2543011. Please be aware these other service might have costs involved. Suitable for all ages
https://www.relate.org.uk/
Papyrus
Papyrus is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. Phone services are operated by Hopeline UK
Telephone: 08000 684 141
Text: 07860039967
Email: pat@papyrus.uk.orh
Autistica
Autistica has a dedicated anxiety and autism hub, which is full of helpful research-backed information for positive coping strategies for anxiety for autistic people.
Suicide bereavement guide for neurodivergent people
If you are autistic and have lost a friend or family member due to suicide, this guide produced by the Support After Suicide Partnership can help you make sense of the situation and give you ideas on how to best cope.
Self-harm and suicide
Self harm guide for adults
This useful guide is produced by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. It provides information and advice for adults about understanding, avoiding, reducing and controlling self-harm.
Coping with self harm – a guide for parents and carers
When a parent or carer discovers their child has been harming themselves it can be a stressful and worrying time – and difficult to know what to do or say for the best. This useful guide has been developed by researchers at the University of Oxford. It provides information, advice and practical tips for parents and carers about understanding self-harm, how to communicate with their child /young person – and how to minimise risk and provide the best possible support.
Harmless – centre of excellence for self-harm and suicide prevention
Click here for wealth of information and resources to support yourself or a loved one with issues related to suicide or self-harm
Videos
Autistic Girls Network- Autism and anxiety with Dr Luke Beardon
Dr Luke Beardon shares his expertise and insight on this topic and offers problem solving ideas – not just for helping individuals in the here and now – but also ideas on how society and systems should change to enable inclusion and better outcomes for autistic people.
Apps
Molehill Mountain (for autistic people)
Molehill Mountain is an app developed especially to help autistic people cope with anxiety. It’s based on CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which has been adapted to be more autism friendly. It supports the person to log their worries – and gives tips on how anxiety works and how to manage it. You can view your progress with stats and graphs.
If you are a parent of an autistic child and wonder if they could benefit from Molehill Mountain, it will be best to try it for yourself first to see what you think – and you may have to support your child to use it at first.
Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app. It shares basic resources for free. You can also sign up for a free trial of their full package – and if you wish to continue, you will be charged a subscription fee. Headspace can help with a range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Research shows Headspace can reduce stress by 14% in just 10 days. It can also help you relax your mind in minutes, improve focus, and sleep.
Here are some self-help books you may find useful. You can buy them online or from a bookshop or borrow from a library. Libraries will consider buying books that they do not already have, if you let them know the details.
Avoiding anxiety in autistic children- Dr Luke Beardon (for parents/carers of autistic children)
It’s an optimistic and readable guide that offers advice on how to support autistic children and young people who suffer from anxiety.
Autism in Childhood- For parents and carers of newly diagnosed- Dr Luke Beardon (for parents/carers of autistic children)
This book is written primarily for parents and helps increase understanding and give some practical tips on how to support children and young people with autism related difficulties. Being well supported in general can really help to reduce anxiety in autistic children.
Avoiding anxiety in autistic adults- A guide of autistic wellbeing- Dr Luke Beardon (for autistic adults)
Described as ‘essential reading not just for any autistic adult, but for anyone who loves, lives with or works with an autistic person’
Cards against anxiety- Dr Pooky Knightsmith
A 128 page book and a pack of 25 cards uses a variety of well-established techniques and controlled breathing practices that can help users stress less and combat anxiety and depression.
Designed for use on the go and around other people, there’s no need find the perfect quiet spot to meditate in and it is discreet enough to be used on packed public transport or in an open public space without compromising your privacy.
What to do When You Worry Too Much: A Kids’ Guide to Overcoming Anxiety- Dr Dawn Hueber
An interactive self-help book for kids aged 6-12 to use with support from an adult. Strategies are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Easy to follow, great illustrations.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Russ Harris
The Happiness Trap
The Confidence Gap
The Reality Slap
For young people
Take a look at the support services and resources available to support young people with their emotional health
Health for teens
Health for teens provides information on feeling and emotional health aimed from age 11+. It covers topics such as low mood, emotional awareness, confidence, self-esteem and self care tips. The site has many different articles, quizzes, local information and a section on neurodiversity
Young minds is a mental health charity for younger people. Young minds contains practical advice for young people, parents/ carers and professionals as well as help to navigate support. In also includes a page on autism and mental health.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Tellmi
Tellmi provides free digital mental health support, 365 days a year (on Android, IOS, and the web).
It has been commissioned by our local Integrated Care Board and is available for anyone aged 11+ living within Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
Tellmi is cost free and operates 365 days a year (on Android, IOS, and the web).
It enables people to help themselves by helping each other. The Tellmi community is anonymous and age-banded. All posts and replies are risk assessed by moderators and counsellors intervene when high-risk posts are made.
You can use filters to have conversations about particular topics such as autism or anxiety – or both.
For those seeking additional help, Tellmi offers 1-2-1 text-based, solution-focused therapy with a qualified therapist. This aims to help people think positively about their future and to identify their existing skills and strengths.
You can refer yourself for the 1:1 text-based therapy sessions by clicking the link below.
For a child or young person, a referral can be made by parents, carers or professionals.
Childline is a counselling service. Their website provides a free online counselling service. They also have a free phone supportservice on 0808 1111, email and online chat service
https://www.childline.org.uk/
The mix
https://www.themix.org.uk/
The Mix offers online counselling and a has a crisis messenger for young people under the age of 25. You can contact them via their online community, on social media, through our free, confidential helpline (0808 808 4994) or their counselling service.
https://www.themix.org.uk/
Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Every Mind Matters Every Mind Matters’ helps young people be kind to their mind. It offers mental health resources include tailored advice, practical tips on sleep and self-care.
Love4Life
Love4Life specialises in supporting vulnerable girls develop their self-esteem and form positive and empowering relationships by offering Love4Life groups, one-to-ones and workshops at school and in the community. Love4Life accepts referrals from parents/guardians, schools and other support services. If you are young person aged 16-18 you can also refer yourself. This service is free.
For carers
Services and resources available to support carers emotional health
Care uk
A wide range of factsheets and guides to explain what support may be available to help ease caring responsibilities. Includes information for working carers
Support for Carers, recognises the difficulties and challenges that carers are facing on a daily basis and the importance of carer recognition.
Support for Carers, understands that carer recognition is key to ensuring you receive the help and support you need at the right time to support you in your caring role. Through provision of the carers passport, this will aid in that recognition.
Please contact us on 01858 468543 or email maureen@supportforcarers.org if you would like further information.
How to apply for a Carers Passport for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Contact is a charity that provides information, advice and support to parents and carers of disabled children and young people from birth to 25, living in any part of the UK. Practical and emotional support, locally and nationally
For individual emotional support, there is the Listening Ear telephone support service.
If you need practical advice, emotional support, a shoulder to cry on, a safe place to vent, whatever it is-they can try to help.
Follow this link to talk to one of the parent carers – they can offer 1:1 telephone appointments for parent carers looking for emotional support:
