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Depression in young people with ASD

My 18 year old grandson is a non verbal, yet quite high functioning, young man with ASD. Over the past couple of years he has had spells of totally withdrawing and taking to his bed for long periods. These seem to be becoming more frequent recently and we are concerned for his mental health. Where can we locate the appropriate professional help? Because he is non verbal is it very difficult to establish what is troubling him.
Replies
Heather
hi,
like @DannyMoore I too suffered with depression as a child with Aspergers.
Much later in life I became Secondary Teacher. During this time the painful realisation that many school teachers have little or no life or profesional experience of Autism and or other disabilities became blatantly apparent.
CAMHS is where you need to be going. Hopefully via a GP referal. But frankly this should not be necerssary as self referral is just as relevant as a Doctors referral. If you are overtly worried and or concerned about your grandsons mental health I would reccomend that you make this a priority.
I have worked with quite a few teenagers with ASD who amongst other issues depression was a problem. Some of them I know still today as adults.
I think that watching sombody go through depression is agonising. Particularly when you feel you know little of what is going on in there. Being non verbal is somthing that will be compounding your grandsons already difficult experiences I imagine.
I am sorry to hear about what you are going through. Please dont loose sight of the fact that adolescence is a tough time for everybody. I remember a couple of young men who used to worry me to death with the way they felt about the world and their lives in it.... They are quite different now though and relatively happy people
Good luck. Please let us know how you get on
I can't add much to what's already been said, but will second the CAMHS suggestion because they really do have the resources for this kind of situation.
Good luck and do let us know how you get on.
Violet
ASD Advisor, Scope