Jeanette Purkis - The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum

This guide lives up to my high expectations and the authors wisdom continues to guide my practice and challenge what I understand about autism. In my opinion, this is an essential resource for not only the person affected but also the people in their lives.

from the Foreword by Kirsty Dempster-Rivett, MSocSci PGDip Psych (Clin.)

Finally, a much needed contribution to the literature on autism and mental health. Incredibly readable, this is a self-help book for adults across the spectrum to understand, manage and improve their mental health. A practical resource, dense with information and strategies, it covers many aspects of mental health, all of which are woven into the rich tapestry of the authors personal experience. The stories shared give this book another dimension by providing valuable insights into supporting those with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), making it an essential companion for families, friends and mental health professionals.

Gillian Chapp de Lonval, Family Support Advisor, Autism Asperger ACT

For individuals with autism and mental health conditions, this self-help book empowers the reader with the information necessary to improve their lives. This book also needs to be read by neurotypicals for the exceptional insight into the autistic mind. I especially liked the thorough information regarding the importance of pets as therapy. This is a MUST READ!

Anita Lesko, BSN, RN, MS, CRNA, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Autism Advocate, Author, Speaker, Diagnosed with Aspergers at age 50

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The Guide
to Good
Mental Health
on the
Autism Spectrum

Jeanette Purkis,
Dr Emma Goodall
and Dr Jane Nugent

Forewords by Dr Wenn Lawson
and Kirsty Dempster-Rivett

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

First published in 2016

by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.jkp.com

Copyright Jeanette Purkis, Emma Goodall and Jane Nugent 2016

Forewords copyright Wenn Lawson and Kirsty Dempster-Rivett 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Names: Purkis, Jeanette, 1974- | Goodall, Emma, 1971- | Nugent, Jane.

Title: The guide to good mental health on the autism spectrum / Jeanette

Purkis, Emma Goodall, and Jane Nugent.

Description: London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2016. |

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015038780 | ISBN 9781849056700 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Autism spectrum disorders. | Autism. | Mental illness. |

Comorbidity. | Mental health.

Classification: LCC RC553.A88 P85 2016 | DDC 616.85/882--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015038780

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84905 670 0

eISBN 978 1 78450 195 2

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Wenn Lawson

People are born with their autism buthow it is expressed depends on their genes and their environment. These words suggest a powerful concept at work amongst the autistic population that is often overlooked. Because our brains, as autistic people, are wired differently to the general population our responses to general issues can cause marked difficulties that can be mis-read and mis-treated. Neural diversity is true for all of us and all brains are wired differently, but as autistics we are different again.

Its not unusual for an autistic adult (especially women) to be either misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, personality disorders, depression and other mental health issues, because their autism isnt recognised, or appropriately diagnosed, but without understanding the impact autism has upon how the brain interprets daily life. Either way, individuals are strapped to mental health services. However, such services, without understanding autism, may only add to the individuals woes. So often mental health issues are poorly understood in any population, but if you add autism into the mix things are heightened and/or under-exposed. Firstly, appropriate assessment and diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (ASC), where they exist, and then any possible mental health issue, need to be separately identified. Then, professional support informed of both scenarios (ASCs and mental health issues) can be offered with a possibility of making a real difference.

This book not only outlines the various mental health issues that anyone might live with; it goes much further, because it takes the knowledge of the issue but then adds autism too. The autistic population, being traditionally labelled as a population that lacks empathy, is devoid of imagination and lacks common sense, is at even higher risk of suicide and/or falling in with the wrong crowd, leading to issues with the criminal justice system. Our prisons have far too many inmates who would qualify for a diagnosis of ASC but have slipped through the net.

When we begin to appreciate how ASC impacts upon individuals thinking and belief patterns we can also begin to understand how best to support them. Take a typical scenario from one autistic persons daily life:

I know I must do some shopping today. I know I must do the washing. There are weeds growing in my garden today. Inside, my head is popping. If I rush into the day and go at it without stopping, Ill crash when only half way done; days go by without coping.