To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with autism in England took their own lives in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2014-15.
Answered on
6 September 2017
Information on the number of people diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum; the number of people on the autistic spectrum who have been diagnosed with having an anxiety disorder or depression; the number of people with autism who took their own lives, and the number of people with autism who have died within the requested timescales is not available centrally.
We have made no assessment of the effectiveness of tools used in the diagnosis of autism in identifying co-existing mental health problems. The use of such tools is a matter for the clinicians concerned, taking into account relevant clinical guidance such as that published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.