Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Autistic Consumers
Autistic people experience dramatically poor mental health outcomes compared to the general population and report significant challenges identifying accessible and appropriate mental health services.
There are many barriers that make it harder for Autistic people to get the right mental health care which can include low autism awareness and understanding by mental health practitioners, communication difficulties (particularly when a person is non-speaking) and sensory sensitivities.
About Amaze’s Autism and Mental Health Resources
Funded by the Victorian Department of Health, Amaze has created a suite of resources which aims to build greater understanding of newly established Mental Health & Wellbeing Locals (MHWL) and to improve the capability of these mental health services to support Autistic people.
Accessing a Mental Health & Wellbeing Local in Victoria
This fact sheet provides information about MHWLs in Victoria. It explains how MHWLs can support Autistic people experiencing mental health concerns, and how these services can be contacted.
The factsheet can be downloaded below in 12 different languages:
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Preparing for my first visit to a Mental Health and Wellbeing Local toolkit
This guide was created to help you prepare to visit a Mental Health and Wellbeing Local for the first time. It includes checklists and worksheets designed to support communication.
This toolkit is available in different sections. You can download the section relevant to you or the full guide.
Download the full toolkit below – available in interactive digital and print formats
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Individual Sections
This section will give you an introduction to the different sections available, and help you decide if you need a support person to attend with you.
The checklist in this section will help you plan your visit to a MHWL.
This section will help you think about how you might want to communicate during your visit to a MHWL
This section will help you during your first visit. It will guide you on how to talk about what you want to seek help with and prepare you for questions you might be asked.
Additional support and resources can be found here.
Autism and Mental Health: A toolkit for Mental Health & Wellbeing Locals
This toolkit was developed for staff at Victorian Mental Health & Wellbeing Locals (MHWL), and draws on insights gathered through consultations with team members from three MHWL locations across Victoria.
It comprises four resources designed to build knowledge across a range of topics. Each section begins with an introduction to the subject and concludes with practical, topic-specific advice.
This section will cover:
- Core traits of autism
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
- Factors impacting mental health in the autism community
This section will cover:
- Communication styles
- How to be an effective communication partner
This section will cover:
- The identification of autism in adults
- Supporting a person’s decision to seek a diagnosis
- Barriers to a formal diagnosis
- Autistic Identity
This section will cover:
- Signs of mental health concerns
- Autistic burnout
- Meltdowns and shutdowns
- Tips to support help seeking
Download the full toolkit below
If you are experiencing distress or poor mental health and need urgent crisis support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to www.lifeline.org.au  (24/7).
Permission is granted for the content of this information guide to be reproduced in its entirety, provided Amaze is acknowledged as the source. Content is provided for educational and informational purposes only.