Two Spectrums: Mental Health and LGBTQ+ People with Autism
I am getting on my soapbox immediately. There are a few things I want us to remember going into today's topic.
Number one is that most autism research is focused on straight, white, cisgender male patients. Once again, research is not inclusive and is centered around Eurocentric prerequisites. Number two is that being LGBTQIA+ does not mean you have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or any other mental illness.
Being a sexual or gender minority does not mean you are mentally ill. Other things such as genetics, environment, economics, and education factor into the development of mental health issues.
Number three, just like people who are LGBTQIA+ are no more deserving of equal rights than heteronormative people, the same is true for those with developmental disabilities.
The only requirement for deserving human rights is to be a human being (granted you're not a serial killer or like eating cottage cheese, which I'd argue also means you're a psychopath).
Lastly, being undiagnosed does not mean you do not have an illness. A person with cancer still has cancer regardless of if the disease is officially documented. However, being diagnosed is still important. It is a requirement to access most medications, disorder-specific treatment, and medical advice.
*Puts soap box away*
Alright! Now, today's topic is centered around how being LGBTQIA+ and having ASD can increase your risk for mental health issues. We are going to discuss why this is and what we can do to help.
So, let's get started!
Lacking Research and Diagnosis
As I mentioned during my TED Talk earlier, psychological research on autism spectrum disorder is continually focused on white male subjects. The reason being is that males are more likely to have ASD than females, and white males have the most access to diagnostic resources.
People of color are often diagnosed later in life due to discrimination within healthcare systems and a lack of financial equality. The same can be said for LGBTQIA+ people who face similar stigmatization and injustices. Recent studies by the Trevor Project support this.
According to their recent reports, "5 percent of LGBTQ+ youth have been diagnosed with autism…35 percent say they suspect they may be autistic."
Being undiagnosed or getting a diagnosis in adulthood can be harmful. ASD is a developmental disorder, meaning the signs and symptoms begin in the first two years of someone's life. Going through childhood and then some with untreated or mismanaged ASD can increase a person's risk for additional mental health complications and physical health issues.
According to the Trevor Project, LGBTQIA+ youth who suspect that they may have ASD have the "highest rates of anxiety (79%) and depression (71%) compared to both youth[s] who have autism diagnoses and [youths] who do not."
As for those who have an official diagnosis, studies show that they are at a higher risk of depression and anxiety than those who are not diagnosed and do not suspect that they have autism.
There is an obvious need for additional research on ASD in LGBTQIA+ people. The more we understand how the disorder can manifest in LGBTQIA+ people, the fewer the number of individuals who go unsupported.
Differences among Identities
We should all be able to recognize by now that all LGBTQIA+ people are not the same. First off, we all have different personalities, histories, values, and goals. Additionally, not all gender and sexual minorities face the same kind of discrimination.
While still stigmatized, society has become more open to lesbian/gay people. However, society is lagging when it comes to equality for transgender people.
These differences create disparities, leaving the transgender and GNC portions of the community at a disadvantage. In terms of ASD, transgender women and girls have the highest prevalence of the disorder: 14%. Following in second, a prevalence of 10% is found in nonbinary youth who were assigned male at birth. In contrast, cisgender LGBQ+ women and girls have the lowest rates of ASD in the community.
Whether or not this represents reality or reflects how women and girls are historically underdiagnosed is still to be seen. The problem of accuracy in these reports also occurs when comparing racial groups. People of color are historically underdiagnosed.
So, although reports show that Indigenous, multiracial, and White LGBTQIA+ people have ASD at double the rate of BIPOC and Asian people, we are left to wonder if these racial groups truly have lower rates of ASD or if the lower reported rate is because of underdiagnosis.
To answer these questions and evaluate how to best approach these disparities, more research is required on ASD in LGBTQIA+ people. Specifically, additional studies should be focused on how ASD presents in transgender, BIPOC, and Asian LGBTQIA+ people.
Impacts
The consequences of inequality in ASD recognition and treatment for LGBTQIA+ people produce prominent mental health impacts. People who are sexual and gender minorities with ASD are 50% more likely to attempt suicide when compared to non-autistic LGBTQIA+ people.
Overall, people with ASD in the LGBTQ+ community are "significantly more likely to report a diagnosis for every condition except substance misuse" when compared to non-LGBTQ+ autistic adults. This includes common co-occurring conditions such as eating disorders and anxiety.
It seems like people who are autistic, queer, and transgender are at a greater disadvantage than those who are only one of these traits.
This makes sense and falls in line with Minority Stress Theory (MST). This theory states that exposure to racial or LGBTQIA+ discrimination can deteriorate one's mental wellbeing. The Minority Stress Model indicates that the more minority groups one is a member of, the greater the negative mental health impacts.
Taking Action
Inclusive academic research on the mental health of LGBTQIA+ individuals with autism spectrum disorder is of the utmost importance. While conducting these studies is not within the capabilities of the everyday reader, advocacy is. By spreading awareness of the demand for this type of research, we can help encourage academics and scientists to act.
You can help spread awareness by sharing this blog, talking with professors at universities, and speaking with organizations such as the APA and the Association for Science in Autism Treatment.
There is also the option of getting involved with these kinds of organizations directly. Nonprofits such as NAA, Autism Society of America, and the Autism Research Institute could be a place to start getting involved.
If you or someone you know is personally impacted by these issues, there are ways to access help. For example, there are online support groups for LGBTQIA+ people with ASD through organizations such as The Asperger/Autism Network LGBTQIA+ Support Groups. It could also be beneficial to seek out an LGBTQ+ therapist or mental health professional with experience treating both LGBTQIA+ and Autistic patients.
Let me know in the comments if you have any resources that would be helpful for others! Let's work together to build a rich community of advocates!
Sources:
8 Autism Organizations Worth Joining or Supporting (elemy.com)
Mental Health Among Autistic LGBTQ Youth – The Trevor Project
