Autism, Adolescence and Suicide Risk

At 13, Jid is seen by most of his teachers as a bright, personable, likable boy with some peculiarities in behavior. Highly intelligent, he sometimes challenges other students in his class, and if he doesn't get his way blurts out 'you're dumb!'. While other boys his age are focused on the latest fashions and beats, he's still fixated on collecting Yu-gi-oh! cards and jokes from the Readers' Digest. Most people see a happy-go-lucky boy who is somewhat immature for his age and has some annoying habits.

At home, it's a different story. He analyzes every contact that he's had during the day, trying to understand how other people make friends. His siblings get frustrated with his inability to respect their personal space, and he spends a lot of time mulling over his failures and lacks.

Jid is a high-functioning Aspie, diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago. Most articles and information about autism focuses on early diagnosis and intervention, how to identify autism in infants and toddlers, what therapies are most useful in teaching social interaction and communication skills to young children. But there are thousands of children out there like Jid, facing a difficult time with an already difficult condition.

Jid's experience isn't unusual. According to Dr. Sandra Harris of Rutgers University, the intellectual abilities of children like Jid lead others to expect more of them than they are capable of giving. Sometime around third grade, their behaviors and differences make them obvious to other children, and they are often bullied and ostracized. By adolescence, many high functioning children with autism come face to face for the first time with the fact that there is 'something wrong with them'.

The frightening fact is that adolescents with autism and Asperger syndrome have a higher rate of depression and anxiety disorders than the general population and are at greater risk of suicide than the general population. Their difficulties with communication and the social isolation connected with autism spectrum disorders can lead to belated recognition of depression and other risk factors for suicide.

Awareness is half the battle. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of depression, and be prepared to intervene. If your child shows the following symptoms, counseling may be indicated.
Unhappiness
Gradual withdrawal into helplessness and apathy
Isolated behavior
Drop in school performance
Loss of interest in activities that formerly were sources of enjoyment
Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness
Fatigue or lack of energy or motivation
Change in sleep habits
Change in eating habits
Self-neglect
Preoccupation with sad thoughts or death
Loss of concentration
Increase in physical complaints
Sudden outbursts of temper
Reckless or dangerous behavior
Increased drug or alcohol abuse
Irritability; restlessness