The Suicide Risk Among Autistic and ADHD Communities
Please be aware this post shares information relating to suicide. If you need support, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline 0800 587 0800.
This week, I had the honour of speaking for a local suicide bereavement charity here in Devon. It was a moving and humbling experience — and a stark reminder of the urgent need to raise awareness of the elevated suicide risks among neurodivergent individuals, especially those with autism and ADHD.
The statistics are sobering.
Research from the UK charity Autistica shows that autistic adults are up to nine times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Although autistic people represent only around 1% of the UK population, they may account for as many as 11% of suicides.
Autistic women are particularly at risk, with suicide rates estimated to be up to 13 times higher than among non-autistic women. Studies have found that between 11% and 66% of autistic adults report suicidal thoughts, and up to 35% have attempted suicide.
The National Autistic Society reports that autistic children are 28 times more likely than their peers to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviours, a figure that demands urgent reflection and action.
In the ADHD community, the picture is similarly alarming.
According to the ADHD Foundation, people with ADHD are nearly five times more likely to attempt suicide than those without ADHD. Women with ADHD face the greatest risk, with population studies indicating a 9.1 times higher likelihood of suicidal behaviour compared to neurotypical women.
And while formal research is still emerging, recent reporting in The Guardian (2024) has highlighted the potentially even higher risk for those who are both autistic and have ADHD — a group sometimes referred to as AuDHD. Lived experience strongly suggests this dual neurodivergence may carry compounded vulnerability.
Why is the risk so high?
Mental health challenges are common across neurodivergent communities. Autistica estimates that nearly four in five autistic adults live with co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, both closely associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Struggles with emotional dysregulation, which are common in both autism and ADHD, can make managing intense feelings incredibly difficult. Many people experience heightened stress responses and take longer to recover from emotional overwhelm. For those with ADHD, impulsivity can further increase suicide risk, making it harder to pause, reach out, or regulate emotions in moments of crisis.
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) This is where even perceived rejection triggers intense emotional pain is another contributing factor. When layered on top of years of social exclusion, masking, and feeling like you don’t fit in, RSD can lead to chronic low self-esteem, shame, and hopelessness.
Masking. Where you suppress or hide traits in order to appear more “typical”, has also been linked to emotional exhaustion, burnout, and increased suicide risk. The National Autistic Society has highlighted the toll this takes on wellbeing, particularly over time.
On top of this, suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS has called for significant improvements in the way mental health services respond to neurodivergent people. Many face long waits, support that isn’t adapted to their needs, or professionals who lack adequate training in recognising and supporting neurodivergent distress.
And this isn’t just about individuals.
Families and carers often live in a state of chronic stress, fear, and emotional fatigue, trying to advocate for loved ones in systems not designed for neurodivergent minds.
This doesn’t have to continue
We can do better. And it starts with:
Earlier recognition of neurodivergence, especially in schools and primary care
Mental health services that are trained and adapted to meet neurodivergent needs
Listening to lived experience instead of dismissing it
Creating safe spaces where people don’t feel they have to hide who they are to survive
If we want to reduce suicide rates in these communities, we must stop treating neurodivergence as an afterthought.
Support and information
Selected sources for further reading:
Autistica – Suicide and autism
National Autistic Society – Suicide and autistic masking
ADHD Foundation – NHS innovations proposal (2022)
The Guardian (2024) – The rise of AuDHD