One in four autistic doctors has attempted suicide, a new study shows.
As well as finding that 24 per cent of autistic doctors have attempted suicide, the research found that more than three in four (77 per cent) have considered it.
The study also found that nearly one in two (49 per cent) had engaged in self-harm.
The research was a joint effort by three organisations. They were Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and Autistic Doctors International (ADI).
Barriers and challenges
The lead author was Dr Sebastian Shaw, lecturer in Medical Education at BSMS and the research lead of ADI.
He said: “Whilst it is deeply concerning to see the extent to which my fellow autistic doctors have struggled with their mental health, it is perhaps not surprising when we consider the many barriers and challenges faced by autistic people working in the healthcare sector.
“We also found that those who considered autism to be a ‘disorder’, rather than a difference or disability, were more likely to have attempted suicide.
“This may reflect a degree of internalised shame from being trained to understand autism as a disorder through their medical practice. This association would seem to support a neurodiversity-affirmative view of autism.
“Fostering more acceptance of autism as a difference may potentially improve the wellbeing of autistic healthcare professionals and patients alike.”
Sense of isolation
The study found that many autistic doctors did not disclose their diagnosis in the workplace. Some 29 per cent had not told anyone at work, while 32 per cent had disclosed being autistic to their supervisor and 30 per cent to their colleagues.
The figures point to a sense of isolation. While four in five of the doctors reported having worked with another doctor they suspected was autistic, only one in five reported having worked with another doctor they knew was autistic.
Those who said they had never worked with any suspected autistic colleagues were more likely to have considered suicide.
Diagnosis of autistic doctors
As awareness and diagnosis of autism grow, more medical students and doctors are discovering they are autistic. The study showed an average age of formal diagnosis of 36.
Some received a diagnosis following difficulties in stressful clinical environments or highly demanding career paths. They found that support from employers was inconsistent, with some colleagues refusing to believe a qualified doctor could be autistic.
Dr Shaw added: “Key to improving the experience of autistic doctors is ensuring that neurodivergence is viewed in a positive light. Workplaces need to provide better support and improve awareness of autistic healthcare professionals.
“Employing a well-supported and neurodiverse medical workforce will mean that the diversity of the public is reflected in their medical providers, with likely improved experiences and outcomes for neurodivergent patients.”
Three in four ‘usually enjoyed their work’
Despite these striking findings, overall, three in four usually enjoyed their work as doctors (74 per cent). A similar proportion (73 per cent) felt that being autistic was helpful in their role as doctors.
Dr Mary Doherty is a senior author and founder of ADI. She said: “Autistic doctors are a hidden minority in the medical workforce, and the range of specialities in ADI challenges autistic stereotypes. General practitioners are the largest subgroup, followed by psychiatrists.”
Dr Wendy Ross is director of the Jefferson Center for Autism and Neurodiversity. She added: “This study is a call to action for the entire medical field to meet the needs of autistic medical talent, as well as patients.”
The cross-sectional study, the first to gauge the experience of autistic doctors, modified a pre-existing survey of autistic school staff. Altogether, 225 members of the ADI organisation took part in the study.
The researchers published their study in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Related:
- Autism training underway for NHS staff
- NHS staff autism training becomes law
- Medical staff still lack autism training
Published: 19 July 2023
