How History can Help Debunk the Rise of Autism

As of late, autism has been gaining more and more traction in the media. However, the coverage can sometimes be misleading and, at times, stigmatizing. With such coverage, it can be challenging to feel certain and can increase worry or concern for loved ones or others. We wanted to provide a deeper look into what we know as mental health professionals as to why autism might feel more present and ‘on the rise’ within the US. 

Why are the number of people being diagnosed increasing? 

There are a couple of reasons why it might feel like the number of people living with autism has increased. A lot of it has to do with the amount of advocacy and cultural shifts towards mental health awareness. If we think about it, the further back in time we go, the more institutionalized we were with mental health culturally. The 19th century asylums were created as a way to keep people living with neurodivergence separate from the general population and often provided care that kept its occupants from living a fulfilling and gratifying life. With this in mind, families would try to hide mental health concerns, viewed psychiatric care as synonymous to incarceration, and would often see neurodivergence as a source of shame. 

In the 1960s, there was a movement to deinstitutionalize mental health as an attempt to provide individuals with community-based mental health services through the 1963 Community Mental Health Centers Act. The push for this was initiated due to advances in mental health care, federal funding, and the concerns about keeping individuals isolated and growing stigma towards mental health. When the act was implemented, there was an increase in mental health diagnosis and an increase in mental health awareness. These increases were not due to a new uptick in neurodivergence, but because there were finally the tools, access, and education in how to properly diagnose, treat, and live with mental health diagnosis’ without the fear of being institutionalized.

How is this related?

As we become more and more mental health conscious, the more we expand our knowledge and resources for diagnosis and treatment. Within the past couple of decades, the understanding of autism has increased exponentially.  There has been an increase within the definition of autism which results in more people meeting the criteria. Whereas before, these people would have not been able to be diagnosed or received treatment. 

Additionally, there has been an increase in screening measures to cast a wider net to symptoms of autism at an earlier age. Individuals have also been more active in being tested at all ages, even into later adulthood. This may be attributed to the increased awareness and advocacy of neurodivergence as a whole and reduced stigmatization. There are also more support structures in place for those who are diagnosed in terms of mental health management, support groups, and community care. 

In conclusion, it is important to be mindful when it seems like there is an increase in prevalence of a mental health diagnosis in order to understand the cultural complexities that might be included in the fluctuation. Regardless of an individual's cause of autism, it is helpful to acknowledge that how professionals diagnose and screen for autism is to increase access to care as well as be inclusive in order to reduce individuals slipping through the cracks and not being assisted. 

References;

Goldman HH, Gattozzi AA, Taube CA. Defining and counting the chronically mentally ill. Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1981;32(1):21-27.

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