This study has been approved by UEL Ethical Committee. Reference Number: 592/U2631802/7-2025
University of East London
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Interested?

For more details or to express your interest in taking part, please scan the QR code for more details.

You can also contact me (Raha Niakan - Trainee Clinical Psychologist) via email at u2631802@uel.ac.uk
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Is this study for me?

You may be eligible to take part if you:
Are at least 18 years old
Identify as autistic
Have tried to access mental health services in the NHS during the perinatal period
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It is hoped that the insights gained will lead to more inclusive support in perinatal mental health services.
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What is this study?

This study aims to explore the lived experience of autistic people who have accessed or tried to access perinatal mental health services in the UK to think about whether the support received was helpful and what might improve these services.
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Seeking Research Participants

We are looking for research participants who identify as autistic and have accessed mental health services in the UK during the perinatal period.

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but if you have any questions or concerns about something we have shared please let us know.

Direct Link: tinyurl.com/3cjf67wy
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Find out more about our peer support offering: www.autisticparentsu...
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a monthly in person neurodivergent support group & I don't think that would have been possible for me without starting my journey with online one to one peer support from APUK. I feel like I am more resourced & more resourceful now, thanks to this service & it has been incredibly beneficial.”
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My regular one to one peer support calls has helped me to build up a bit of confidence to communicate with people & I think being in a conversation with someone who I feel able to not have to mask with, has really helped me to feel safer in my own skin & I have recently started attending
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Our full response is now available to read here: www.autisticparentsuk.org/post/autism-...

Read more about what the evidence actually says, the harms of misinformation, the deeper problems underlying these types of misleading statements, and why this matters in our latest blog post:

www.autisticparentsu...

#ActuallyAutistic
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When influential figures repeat myths about autism, they amplify long-standing misinformation. This creates fear, fuels stigma, and undermines decades of progress in understanding autism as part of human diversity.
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👉 Research should focus on making life better for Autistic people

We will publish a full response on our blog in due course.

We reiterate our previous statement on harmful and incorrect messages being spread about Autism by US President, Donald Trump and Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:

👉 There is no autism epidemic
👉 Autistic people do not need a cure
👉 All Autistic lives are worth living

The causes of autism are complex, and much of the rise in rates of diagnosis in recent years can be attributed to better awareness and identification of Autistic people.

This Q&A will be livestreamed to Facebook, so there’s no need to book a ticket.

📹 A recording will be available on our public Facebook page shortly after the end of the event for 30 days.
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