Overview

The project aimed to co-design and pilot ecological momentary assessment (EMA - multiple smartphone surveys each day) as a method to understand young autistic people who experience suicidal thoughts and feelings. Autistic people are a high priority group for suicide prevention (DHSC, 2023) though most research to date has focused on adults (O’Halloran, 2022). This pilot project aims to inform a larger fellowship application.

Outcomes

The outcome to date is that we have completed the co-design phase for the ecological momentary assessment study. The co-designed EMA study has identified the following priorities for understanding young people’s suicidal thoughts and feelings: self-determination (competence, autonomy and connectedness), purpose in life, sensory sensitivities, special interests, nature. These findings are being written up for submission to a high impact journal. The EMA study will be administered to 50 pilot participants once ethical approval is obtained.

Future Directions

The methods and approach developed for this project has allowed Mirabel to successfully compete for the Edward Mallen prize for Neuroscience at University of Cambridge, awarded in July 2024. I have also used the co-design screening questionnaire to support my main post-doc project at University of Cambridge. These small grants will inform a larger post-doctoral fellowship to explore how best to support young autistic people who experience suicidal thoughts and feelings. I have been grateful for support from under-graduate students (kindly signposted by Aja and Karri) and hope the students will be able to share results at the Early and Mid-career Researchers’ Forum in Suicide and Self-harm 2025.