Stigma of Autism Can Affect Psyche

Social stigma may play a significant role in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues experienced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In a study involving 111 autistic adults, researchers found that 72% of psychological distress reported by participants was due to social stigma such as discrimination and rejection. Study author Dr. Monique Botha writes, “We already suspected there would be a significant impact of discrimination on the mental health of the autistic population, it’s just that no one’s really studied the impact of that before… The only thing we were surprised by was how potentially strong a relationship there was… To put it colloquially, it blew our minds.” Society and Mental Health, October 2018