Autism is not a mental health condition, but autistic people may be more likely to experience anxiety or mental health challenges. There are lots of ways to support autistic people to promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
Anxiety is when someone feels very worried, nervous, or scared. It’s something many people go through. In fact, about 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. For autistic people, anxiety is even more common. Studies show that 40–50% of autistic individuals also have an anxiety disorder. That means nearly half of autistic people may feel anxious a lot of the time.