4. Improving health and mental health

A government building and a document with a medical cross on it.

The Department of Health and Aged Care is creating a plan to improve Autistic people’s:

  • health
  • mental health.

A person pointing to themselves and 2 thought bubbles. Inside one thought bubble is a person and inside the other thought bubble is an importance icon.

Mental health is about how you:

  • think and feel about yourself
  • deal with things in your life.

A person holding a document with a medical cross on it. Beside them is an Autism icon.

The plan is called the National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People.

3 healthcare workers and a cross.

Often Autistic people aren’t able to get the health care they need.

This can be because:

A healthcare worker shrugging their shoulders.

  • many health care workers don’t understand Autism

A money icon and an arrow pointing up.

  • it costs too much

2 calendar icons.
  • they have to wait for a long time.

A group of people from different backgrounds. Above them is a safety icon with a cross.

Autistic people might not get the health care they need because it isn’t safe for their culture.

This includes:

  • First Nations people
  • people from different backgrounds.

3 different government buildings.

It can also be challenging for Autistic people to find and use the right government services.

This is because different levels of government provide different supports.

2 people sharing a document.

We will share your ideas on this theme with the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Questions

A health icon, an Autism icon mental health icon and an importance icon.

Do Autistic people experience other health and mental health issues?

How could our Strategy support these issues?

A thumbs up with an arrow pointing up.

How can we improve health and mental health services?

A person supporting someone.

Are there other ways that we can support Autistic people to have better:

  • health?
  • mental health?