Autism: The struggles of suspected patients battling long waiting lists

New research has found that three in five individuals on the autism diagnosis waiting list still haven't been assessed after a year - despite the target being 13 weeks.

And according to a new survey, 70% of people with autism have received no support at all, despite 93% of them saying the state of their mental health is having an impact on their life - as Sky's Emma Birchley reports.

#autism #waitinglists #skynews

[bexie]

My ADHD assessment has a two year wait and my autism assessment has a three year one. I'm 31 years old now.

[janwilson]

I also believe I have undiagnosed long term Autism. Nobody 'gets me', I think and socially interact differently to most people, I have suffered throughout my life as a result. My own philosophy is that the education system teaches people to learn and 'think' within very fixed parameters based on academia. People who think and learn outside of these parameters are often very misunderstood. If only the education system and the people who orchestrate it accommodated different ways of thinking, then I believe some of the mental health issues surrounding Autism could be avoided.

[chrisburns]

A diagnosis may not be the ticket to get support, been diagnosed for years and help has always been in short supply. They are certainly people in far worse situations than the case featured.

[LittleCameraTour]

im waiting for an adha, borderline personality disorder, and autism assesments. i got refused because i said i drink a couple of beers on a friday. i was told to get drink counsiling before they would even see me. are these people crazy ? or is this just a way to try and save money even my local mp cant get a clear answer from them if i can go private get assesed so i can get help then. im still waiting on an answer from the nhs

[alannic]

Everyone with illness is waiting for treatment. The NHS is not fit for purpose frankly. The blue or red one will not fix it either way.

[Zod]

As someone with ADHD I too dislike long waiting lists...

[glennwoods]

I discovered I have autism (Asperger's) early last year...im 64 years old...
I had no idea, but it came as no surprise....

[marks]

She’s got a lot of books on the subject probably can assess herself .

[kmaddison]

I've been waiting a year & I have a further 3 years wait in my area!! My 19 year old son just got diagnosed 2 weeks ago, he waited for over 4 years... It's not good enough - sorry!

[lukeharrop]

Got my diagnosis in August after an 18 month wait

[christopherbentley]

I know that this is probably more down to a lack of understanding on the part of healthcare professionals rather than an over-long waiting list, but it was a matter of decades before my Asperger's was diagnosed.

[tm]

I can't believe I was lucky to be given a diagnosis over two decades ago at an infant age when the support back then was good and it changed my life for the better. But hearing about this story is making me feel angry at the NHS and government treating those patients like they don't matter to be part of the nation's population. And one day soon more autistic people in future generations will cursed those who are making their lives a misery! We autistic people will never rest until we get the treatment we deserve.

[undertheradar]

I am over 2 years on the waiting list.

[VoteReform-qrhn]

The big pharma and antidepressant industries are very happy with these developments.

[theonewhomjesusloves]

we have to ask ourselves why is there such long waiting lists???why do so many people have autism?? something isnt right! something is fishy 🤔

[CymruValkrja]

I have ADHD was lucky I got diagnosed with in one to two weeks it wasn't the waiting list for me that was the problem it was the
Doctor who wouldn't send me to see a mental health professional the second time I had to ask I told the Dr I was going to repeatedly ring the doctors surgery until they sent me, most of the research I had done myself also + it was 6 months before first lockdown, my son was diagnosed with ADHD after I was a year later, I had been fighting his primary school psychologist.

[ALADDIN]

For ADHD much worse, dyspraxia non - existent

[ydnallah]

According to testing I am in the highest likelihood of psychopathy, BPD with narcissistic tendencies.

😂😂 the tests are all a load of bollocks.

[cageragemalia]

Is anyone else Concerned or alarmed by the massive rise in autism diagnosis ?
Lots of money to be made from the Meds

[ANGELROB_YTC]

I am properly austistic one day i get tested i am to buzzy getting tested for over stuff at the moment so when that done maybe