Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics

**Discussion around suicide** . . . . SEMA was invited to a Suicide Prevention networking event earlier this month by the Glasgow HSCP. It was interesting to hear about the changing demographics of the city and the interlinked cases of mental health issues.

Taking a suicide prevention approach to our various needs means listening and acting on that information from a human rights based approach, taking accountability very seriously. When our lives are lost due to systemic failures, who answers to those failures? What changes are made?

**Discussion around suicide** . . . . SEMA was invited to a Suicide Prevention networking event earlier this month by the Glasgow HSCP. It was interesting to hear about the changing demographics of the city and the interlinked cases of mental health issues.

So, to actually prevent suicide ideation and completion, in the words of Dr Milton, "social isolation, anomie and alienation, along with too much uncertainty or too little autonomy, must all be factors that are in need of study... add to that ableism and intersectionality".

**Discussion around suicide** . . . . SEMA was invited to a Suicide Prevention networking event earlier this month by the Glasgow HSCP. It was interesting to hear about the changing demographics of the city and the interlinked cases of mental health issues.

The picture does becomes clearer & actions more tangible. For eg, looking at underemployment rates, reduced access to health care, issues ending up in addictions & criminal record; being in abusive relationships, not believed or supported by social work, education, police, medical staff, and more.

**Discussion around suicide** . . . . SEMA was invited to a Suicide Prevention networking event earlier this month by the Glasgow HSCP. It was interesting to hear about the changing demographics of the city and the interlinked cases of mental health issues.

A few take-away reflections (shared in the group discussion): Although there was good data on demographics on gender, health outcomes, ethnicity, migration, LGBTQ+, employment outcomes, what was missing was a cross section analysis on belonging to multiple groups and the impact on mental health.

**Discussion around suicide** . . . . SEMA was invited to a Suicide Prevention networking event earlier this month by the Glasgow HSCP. It was interesting to hear about the changing demographics of the city and the interlinked cases of mental health issues.

Autistic people are significantly more likely to experience suicidal ideation than the general population. For racialised Autistic people, the risk is compounded by the very systems that should be keeping them safe. Burnout from years of masking. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria.

Mind (mental health charity) www.mind.org.uk Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) www.samh.org.uk Victim Support Scotland victimsupport.scot/get-support/

Autistic people are significantly more likely to experience suicidal ideation than the general population. For racialised Autistic people, the risk is compounded by the very systems that should be keeping them safe. Burnout from years of masking. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria.

But prevention is possible. It looks like being believed and heard. It looks like kindness without assumptions. It looks like removing people from toxic environments and seeking justice for mistreatment. It looks like regular check ins, joyous distractions, and open honest communication.

Autistic people are significantly more likely to experience suicidal ideation than the general population. For racialised Autistic people, the risk is compounded by the very systems that should be keeping them safe. Burnout from years of masking. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria.

Recently we have had discussions around mental health and suicide ideation. Given that Autistic people, particularly women, are over represented in statistics around suicide, we should take time to analyse the factors that cause this. Being Autistic is not the cause.

However, there are so many more of us who don't have words to describe our experiences due to the lack of assessment pathways, community support and uninformed professionals around us.

Recently we have had discussions around mental health and suicide ideation. Given that Autistic people, particularly women, are over represented in statistics around suicide, we should take time to analyse the factors that cause this. Being Autistic is not the cause.

However, some of us have had enough of rejection sensitive dysphoria (especially when we are AuDHD), enough of connecting all the systems of oppression and enough of uncontrollable hyper empathy.

Content warning *mention of suicide at the end* We dedicate this video in memory of Dr. Jason Arday, an openly autistic Black sociologist and educator who died on 14th August after the pile on by media hate.

When 1 in 4 Autistic people are said to attempt suicide, we need to reshape society to be welcoming, non judgmental and open to difference. Translation into more languages to follow. To find out more about us, visit www.sema.scot and read our blog on RSD.

Content warning *mention of suicide at the end* We dedicate this video in memory of Dr. Jason Arday, an openly autistic Black sociologist and educator who died on 14th August after the pile on by media hate.

Have you ever found yourself so deep in a daydream that you lost track of time completely? That the world around you faded out and you were somewhere else entirely, living out a scenario that felt almost real?

Understanding experiences like maladaptive daydreaming is part of how we build genuine support for Autistic people at SEMA. Because when we understand the full picture of how Autistic and neurodivergent minds work, we can respond with compassion rather than confusion.

Have you ever found yourself so deep in a daydream that you lost track of time completely? That the world around you faded out and you were somewhere else entirely, living out a scenario that felt almost real?

For many people, maladaptive daydreaming develops as a coping mechanism. A way to process stress, escape from an overwhelming environment, or find a sense of control and safety in a world that often feels unpredictable. In that sense, it makes complete sense. The mind finds what it needs.

Have you ever found yourself so deep in a daydream that you lost track of time completely? That the world around you faded out and you were somewhere else entirely, living out a scenario that felt almost real?

For many Autistic and neurodivergent people, this experience has a name. Maladaptive daydreaming. Maladaptive daydreaming is an immersive fantasy experience where a person becomes so absorbed in their inner world that it can feel like being inside a film or a story.

Today is Women's Equality Day. A day that reminds us how far women have fought for the right to simply be treated as equal, and how far there is still to go. At SEMA, equality for women means nothing if it does not include racialised women. Disabled women. 👇🧵

Black, Brown or Asian Autistic women wanting to live without fear, prejudice, bullying and harassment, but instead with respect, equal work opportunities and pay, access to justice and adjustments, really should not be this hard. 👇🧵

Today is Women's Equality Day. A day that reminds us how far women have fought for the right to simply be treated as equal, and how far there is still to go. At SEMA, equality for women means nothing if it does not include racialised women. Disabled women. 👇🧵

We ask our allies to check out our womanhood webinar and e-book, which explore life transitions from puberty to menopause through the lens of racialised Autistic women, because those stories deserve to be told and understood. 👇🧵

Today is Women's Equality Day. A day that reminds us how far women have fought for the right to simply be treated as equal, and how far there is still to go. At SEMA, equality for women means nothing if it does not include racialised women. Disabled women. 👇🧵

There is no data specifically on racialised Autistic/ ADHD/ AuDHD women and girls, so how can @scottishgovernment.bsky.social allocate dedicated support while discussing their commitment to combatting women's equality? 👇🧵

Today is Women's Equality Day. A day that reminds us how far women have fought for the right to simply be treated as equal, and how far there is still to go. At SEMA, equality for women means nothing if it does not include racialised women. Disabled women. 👇🧵

We want this path open without barriers for other women, and girls, and not repeat the struggles that we and other female and non-binary leaders have experienced. We also know that Autistic women face particular challenges that are still largely invisible in both feminist and autistic spaces. 👇🧵

Today is Women's Equality Day. A day that reminds us how far women have fought for the right to simply be treated as equal, and how far there is still to go. At SEMA, equality for women means nothing if it does not include racialised women. Disabled women. 👇🧵

Both SEMA founders have had to face misogyny, ableism, classism, and racism in several places; as young women, in relationships, as single parents, as employees, as students, when seeking justice, as well as in their advocacy against discriminatory systems of oppression. 👇🧵

Today is Women's Equality Day. A day that reminds us how far women have fought for the right to simply be treated as equal, and how far there is still to go. At SEMA, equality for women means nothing if it does not include racialised women. Disabled women. 👇🧵