Autistic youth mental health and wellbeing hub
Understanding what’s going on inside your body and mind isn’t always straightforward, especially for Autistic young people navigating the demands of secondary school. Noticing body signals, naming emotions, managing big feelings, and recognising when energy has run out are all connected skills that support wellbeing, learning and day-to-day life.
Amaze has created a series of resources on alexithymia, burnout, emotional regulation and interoception. These resources provide valuable insight into the lived experience and feelings of young Autistic people, as well as practical strategies young people, and the people who support them, can use to build these skills. These resources would be useful for Autistic students, teachers, parents and carers.
Funded by the Victorian Department of Education, these resources were created with input from Autistic young people, parents and carers, occupational therapists and education professionals.
Not sure what these terms mean?
Here’s a quick guide, including what each resource covers.
Alexithymia
Alexithymia means not having words for emotions. Some Autistic young people may find it hard to notice, understand and talk about their feelings. This toolkit is for parents and carers of Autistic young people in high school, with worksheets to help a young person develop language for their emotions, along with guidance on next steps.
Burnout
Autistic burnout is a state of deep, ongoing exhaustion from coping with too much for too long, affecting energy, thinking, emotions and physical wellbeing. These resources come as two guides with activity worksheets, one for parents and carers and one for teens, to help families understand what burnout is, recognise the signs, and support recovery.
Emotional regulation
Emotional regulation is how we name and manage our feelings, a skill built over time and practice. These videos and tip sheet are for Autistic students, teachers and parents, sharing the lived experience of young Autistic people, including Chloe Hayden, alongside practical strategies to manage big or overwhelming emotions.
Interoception
Interoception is the awareness of sensations inside the body, like hunger, tiredness or pain. This toolkit is for parents and carers of Autistic young people in secondary school, with two worksheets and reflection activities to help build the connection between brain and body. It supports Autistic students to develop this awareness both at home and at school.
Toolkit variations and infographic
Alexithymia infographic – digital
Alexithymia infographic – print
Alexithymia toolkit – digital, non-interactive
Burnout guide for Autistic teens – digital, non-interactive
Burnout guide for Autistic teens – print
Burnout guide for parents and carers – digital, non-interactive
Burnout guide for parents and carers – print
Consultation was done with Autistic young people, parents and carers, occupational therapists and education professionals and their input was included during the development of these resources. The creation of these resources was proudly funded by the Victorian Department of Education.
