Mental illness and Autistic Doctors

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Autistic doctors are a “hidden minority” in hospitals and other health settings, according to an Irish hospital consultant whose new groundbreaking study has revealed their mental struggles.
Dr Mary Doherty, an anaesthetist in Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, who herself was only diagnosed with autism 10 years ago, discovered on average the doctors surveyed only had their autism confirmed in their mid-30s but many are not disclosing their condition.

Dr Doherty, a founder of Autistic Doctors International, is a senior author of the first study of autistic doctors led by Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Thomas Jefferson University, USA.

It found a quarter of the autistic doctors in the survey across different countries had attempted suicide, and more than three-quarters considered it. Nearly half had also engaged in self-harm.

“Autistic doctors are a hidden minority in the medical workforce, and the range of specialties in Autistic Doctors International challenges autistic stereotypes. General practitioners are the largest subgroup, followed by psychiatrists,” said Dr Doherty.

Lead author Dr Sebastian Shaw of Brighton and Sussex Medical School pointed out that “while it is deeply concerning to see the extent to which my fellow autistic doctors have struggled with their mental health, it is perhaps not surprising when we consider the many barriers and challenges faced by autistic people working in the healthcare sector”.

‘We also found that those who considered autism to be a ‘disorder’, rather than a difference or disability, were more likely to have attempted suicide.

The study showed that many autistic doctors did not disclose their diagnosis in the workplace, with 29pc not having told anyone at work. Some 32pc told supervisors and 30pc divulged to their colleagues.

“Most did not feel comfortable enough to disclose being autistic to others in the workplace. As a result, these people are consistently camouflaging or masking their autistic status, putting on a non-autistic facade for others in professional settings,” said the study.

“Such practice takes a continual effort on the part of autistic people, and we know that masking can contribute to burnout, discontinuing employment, and even serious mental health issues and suicide – many of which are major issues within the medical workforce to begin with.

While disclosure can be an appealing option for autistic employees, it is difficult to access in many workplaces and is often associated with stigma and discrimination from supervisors and co-workers.”

The study pointed out that as awareness and diagnosis of autism grows, more medical students and doctors are discovering they are autistic and the average age of diagnosis was found to be 36.

Some were diagnosed after difficulties in stressful clinical environments, or highly demanding career paths arose – and found support from employers was inconsistent.

Some colleagues refused to believe a qualified doctor could be autistic.

“Key to improving the experience of autistic doctors is ensuring that neurodivergence is viewed in a positive light,” said Dr Shaw. “Workplaces need to provide better support and improve awareness of autistic healthcare professionals.