Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which measures set out in the cross-government suicide prevention strategy have been assessed as appropriate for autistic people.

The development of the care pathway for autism is a matter for NHS England to determine with partners and stakeholders once a timetable for its production has been finalised later this year.

The Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy, which was published in 2012, included key actions to take tailored approaches to meet the mental health of people with specific needs to address their risk of suicide, including people with autism. The strategy was updated in January 2017, and set out ways in which we aim to strengthen delivery of the key areas for action. We have asked local authorities to implement multi-agency suicide prevention strategies by the end of this year, which includes working with local agencies such as health and other statutory services and the voluntary and charitable sector to develop local strategies which take account of people with specific needs. The updated strategy also made a commitment for the National Health Service to take further action to reduce suicides of people in contact with mental health services which would include people on the autistic spectrum who are in contact with services.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a number of clinical guidelines that recommend pharmacological interventions for mental health conditions, including depression, which are experienced by people with autism. These clinical guidelines represent best practice and we would expect them be taken into account by clinicians when deciding on the most appropriate care for their patients.