Autism Acceptance Month 2026

I don’t have a lot to say this Autism Acceptance Month considering I’m sectioned in hospital, but what I would like to know is why so many autistic people have to end up unwell and in mental health hospitals, and when that is going to change.

I would like to know when autistic people will no longer be significantly more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Research suggests autistic people are 7 times more likely to die by suicide, with up to 35% considering it and 25% attempting it (Autistica).

My heart breaks for every single autistic person stuck in mental health hospitals. Too at risk to be sent home, but hospital just perpetuating the cycle. The system is so broken.

Like I say in ‘Girl Unmasked’: ‘We are putting autistic people through hell - and when they break, if they survive, we put them in hell to try to manage their brokenness. The system is unfit for purpose. You see, psychiatric wards are not built for autistic people. You could hardly design a better environment to enhance our stress - and yet we are placed there at our most vulnerable.’

Read my blog post ‘Autism and Mental Health: Why do so many autistic people struggle?‘ here.

This is all you’ll be getting from me this Autism Acceptance Month, but I’ve written a lot about this before so have a look on my blog page here.

Autistic people deserve better. We deserve to live happy, fulfilling lives - however that looks for us.

GIRL UNMASKED (The Sunday Times Bestseller) is available to order from Amazon and all major bookstores as a hardback, paperback, audiobook and ebook. linktr.ee/itsemilykaty

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