Autistic mental health is often framed through a narrow, deficit-based lens — one that focuses on pathology, risk, and what’s “wrong.” But this view leaves out the richness of autistic lives, the diversity of our needs, and the resilience in our communities. Moving beyond the pathology paradigm means centring lived experience, recognising the systemic barriers that shape mental health outcomes, and embracing approaches grounded in the neurodiversity paradigm. This article explores wha...
