Factors that increase the risk of Depression

Certain life experiences, like being bullied, going through trauma, or feeling isolated, and certain characteristics, like sensory differences, alexithymia (which means having trouble identifying and expressing feelings) and differences in social communication, can increase the risk of someone experiencing low mood and depression (Rai et al., 2018; Chapman et al., 2022).

Several factors contribute to the increased prevalence of depression in autistic children and young people:   

• Increased isolation
  • Some autistic children and young people may experience increased feelings of isolation from their peers, this may be a result of miscommunication between the autistic person and neurotypical person, Damian Milton refers to this as a communication gap which he explains using the ‘double empathy’ theory. 
• Sensory Overload
  • Autistic children and young people may experience differences in processing sensory input from the environment around them which can result in sensory overload. This overload can lead to heightened anxiety and stress, which can contribute to depressive symptoms.
• Bullying and Stigmatisation
  • Autistic children and young people may face bullying or stigmatisation due to their differences, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and mental well-being.
• Executive Functioning
  • Some differences with executive functioning, such as organising, planning and managing tasks, can lead to frustration and feelings of failure.
• Alexithymia
  • Alexithymia is a term used to describe a difficulty or challenge in identifying, understanding, and expressing one’s own emotions. Individuals with alexithymia may struggle to recognise and label their feelings, making it challenging for them to communicate their emotional experiences to others and recognise when they might need help or support with their feelings.
  • This challenge in emotional processing may make it harder for autistic children and young people to communicate their feelings effectively, hindering their ability to seek support or articulate their emotional needs.