B1-D: Understanding and supporting the mental health of individuals with autism: Focus on diagnosis

This presentation is appropriate for parents, educators, and clinicians. The presenters are a psychiatrist and a counselor who specialize in autism and have collaborated to help children and adults with autism and co-occurring mental health conditions for over two decades.

The presence of mental health conditions is often a source of confusion for practitioners and needless suffering for children and adults with autism and their families. Mental health conditions are often diagnosed without taking autism into consideration. Understanding the impact of brain differences on expression of mental health conditions is essential to a successful outcome. This presentation includes basic neuroscience and education on brain differences critical to understanding and determining appropriate diagnosis of co-occurring mental health conditions. No prior understanding of the brain is required.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Brain differences in the developing brain of children with autism
2. How to understand the relationship between autism and mental health conditions
3. How to use an autism-informed framework when diagnosing mental health conditions
4. Learn advocacy tools for improved diagnostic accuracy

Speakers