Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism

Services and Supports Provided by the State for Autistic People: Discussion (Resumed)

Dr. Mary Doherty:

I totally agree. The current situation whereby autistic people are excluded from mental health services is wrong. There are many families struggling to access care. Although autism is absolutely not a mental illness, autistic people are susceptible to mental illness and have a right to mental health treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions. That is not being well addressed currently.