abstract: 'The growing number of autistic adults challenges the limited adult

  service system. While data on service use and barriers are available,

  there is limited information from the individual''s perspective on which

  services are most helpful in adulthood and how service use is connected

  to community participation outcomes. Forty autistic adults participated

  in a study combining global positioning system community participation

  measures with survey and interview data on service use, including which

  services are most helpful in adulthood, barriers to services, and

  service needs. Participation outcomes were analyzed relative to

  demographics, number and types of services received in the past 2 years,

  and current mental health service use. Participants received an average

  of two services in the past 2 years, most frequently mental health and

  employment services. Individuals currently seeing a mental health

  counselor were more likely to be working full-time and visit more

  community locations compared to those who were not seeing a counselor.

  Participants reported mental health services as the most helpful service

  received in adulthood followed by employment services. While an emphasis

  is often placed on employment services in the transition to adulthood,

  findings suggest a need for integrated mental health and employment

  services for autistic adults.

  Lay Abstract

  The number of autistic adults is growing, but there are fewer services

  to support them in adulthood. Many autistic adults need some support

  services to lead successful adult lives. We know a lot about the

  services autistic adults use and some of the problems with using these

  services, but we do not know which services are most helpful to them and

  how the services they use relate to how they interact with their

  communities. Forty autistic adults took part in a study about service

  use and community participation. They completed surveys, interviews, and

  carried a global positioning system tracker. They answered questions

  about which services are most helpful in adulthood, things that make it

  hard to use services, and what services they needed. Most participants

  used two services in the past 2 years, most frequently mental health and

  employment services. Adults who were currently seeing a mental health

  counselor were more likely to be working full-time and visit more

  locations in the community compared to those who were not seeing a

  counselor. Mental health services were reported as the most helpful

  service they received as adults, followed by employment services. We

  often focus on the importance of employment services after high school,

  but our findings show a need for both mental health and employment

  services for autistic adults.'
affiliation: 'Chan, DV (Corresponding Author), Univ North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dept
  Hlth Sci, Div Clin Rehabil \& Mental Hlth Counseling, Bondurant Hall,CB7205, Chapel
  Hill, NC 27599 USA.

  Chan, Dara, V; Doran, Julie D., Univ North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
  USA.

  Chan, Dara, V, Univ North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dept Hlth Sci, Div Clin Rehabil
  \& Mental Hlth Counseling, Bondurant Hall,CB7205, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA.'
article-number: '13623613231197446'
author: Chan V, Dara and Doran, Julie D.
author-email: dara\_chan@med.unc.edu
author_list:
- family: Chan V
  given: Dara
- family: Doran
  given: Julie D.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1177/13623613231197446
earlyaccessdate: SEP 2023
eissn: 1461-7005
files: []
issn: 1362-3613
journal: AUTISM
keywords: 'adults; autism; community participation; employment; mental health;

  psychiatric treatment; service use'
keywords-plus: 'SPECTRUM DISORDERS; CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT; YOUTH; INDIVIDUALS; OUTCOMES;

  PARTICIPATION; POPULATION; DISABILITY; PATTERNS; SUPPORT'
language: English
month: 2023 SEP 7
number-of-cited-references: '65'
orcid-numbers: 'Doran, Julie/0000-0002-6705-2716

  Chan, Dara/0000-0003-3751-3670'
papis_id: 7cba5d81cd5866885a04d7b678645da0
ref: Chanv2023mentalhealth
times-cited: '0'
title: 'Mental health counseling is rated as most helpful by autistic adults: Service
  perspectives in adulthood'
type: Article; Early Access
unique-id: WOS:001061316300001
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '0'
web-of-science-categories: Psychology, Developmental
year: '2023'