'The best way we can stop suicides is by making lives worth living': a mixed-methods survey in the UK of perspectives on suicide prevention from the autism community.

BACKGROUND: Autistic people are at higher risk of dying by suicide than are non-autistic people, but research focused on suicide prevention in autistic individuals is lacking. We aimed to understand, from autistic people and those who support them, the pathways to suicide prevention, the balance of crisis measures vs. longer-term prevention, the importance of formal diagnosis, and the role of co-design and co-production in suicide prevention activities. METHODS: We undertook a mixed-methods, two-phase online survey focused on the priorities, views and perspectives of autistic people and their supporters/allies on approaches and strategies to prevent suicide. In Phase 1 (Jan 10-July 31, 2024), via the first survey, we collected and thematically analysed ideas for suicide prevention from almost 1200 autistic people and more than 200 people who identified as supporters and/or allies of autistic people. In Phase 2 (reported herein), a larger group of participants rated and ranked these ideas via a second online survey, during which we collected qualitative and quantitative data. Participants were UK residents aged ≥16 years who self-identified as being in one or more of the following groups: autistic; someone with experience supporting an autistic person of any age or ability; and/or someone with experience of bereavement by the suicide of an autistic person they supported. The online survey included closed-ended and open-ended (qualitative) questions. We thematically analysed free-text responses, and computed descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions. FINDINGS: Between Nov 1, 2024, and Jan 31, 2025, 2778 individuals responded to the online survey (Phase 2), comprising 2463 autistic people and 315 non-autistic people who identified as supporters/allies of autistic people, some of whom had been bereaved by the suicide of an autistic person. Although some participants reported that crisis interventions (eg, dedicated helplines) were most urgent, a greater number prioritised larger-scale preventative measures ...