A roadmap to better support for neurodivergent children

ADR UK Research Fellow Dr Simona Skripkauskaite believes linked administrative data research could help build a more supportive and responsive system that meets the needs of neurodivergent young people. Read her blog to find out how and why this is important.

The mental health challenges faced by neurodivergent children and young people— those who are, for example, autistic or ADHD—are significantly higher than those experienced by their neurotypical peers. For instance, around 70% of  autistic children experience depression or anxiety. Similarly, children with ADHD are over five times more likely to experience depression than those without. These stark statistics underscore the urgent need for more research into neurodivergent mental health, which has been prioritised in the UK Suicide Prevention Strategy 2023-2028.

The challenges of accessing mental health support

When supporting newly diagnosed neurodivergent individuals in the charity sector, I observed how often they are shuffled between different systems and receive insufficient support from any one service. However, timely, multifaceted, community-based care is essential for addressing mental health challenges and for preventing more severe outcomes, such as hospitalisation.

Key points of contact for support

Many neurodivergent children come into contact with educational support, social care, and health services at some point in their lives. I see these interactions as underutilised opportunities to identify and address unmet mental health needs. For instance:

• a significant proportion of children in social care are neurodivergent, with half of care experienced children classified as having special educational needs.
• neurodivergent children are more likely to be excluded from school, which may signal unmet needs.
• neurodivergent children are likely to engage with healthcare services for neurodevelopmental diagnosis or mental health concerns.

The role of data in improving mental health support

To gain a clearer holistic picture of how neurodivergent children navigate the system, I believe we need to understand the pathways through which they access different support services. Linked administrative data offers an excellent opportunity to track such service use over time.

During my fellowship, I will use data from the Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data (ECHILD) project, focusing on neurodivergent children from birth to 12 years old. My goal is to analyse how their contact with educational support, social care, and health services differs from that of neurodivergent children without mental health conditions, as well as neurotypical children who do develop mental health issues.

Key insights and potential impact

My findings will help illuminate several critical areas for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and families, including:

1. Additional support needs: Identifying the types of mental health support that could benefit neurodivergent children, who are already in contact with educational, social care, and health services.
2. Early intervention and prevention of co-occurring mental health conditions: Pinpointing where early, targeted interventions could be implemented to reach neurodivergent children before they develop mental health diagnoses, preventing more severe co-occurring mental health conditions from taking root.
3. Service pathways: Understanding whether neurodivergent children with mental health conditions are navigating different service pathways than their neurotypical peers. Using this information to identify areas if and where they may be missing out on support prior to their engagement with mental health services.

By uncovering the key factors influencing the access to and quality of mental health services for neurodivergent children, my research aims to create a clearer picture of how the system can better serve them. My fellowship plans include bringing research insights, policy makers, and lived-experience advisors together to co-develop research-to-policy strategies that are both achievable and sustainable. The insights gathered will not only help guide future policy decisions but also improve the day-to-day experiences of children, young people, and their families navigating mental health challenges.

Ultimately, it’s about building a more supportive, responsive, and connected system that meets the needs of neurodivergent children and young people before a crisis occurs, ensuring they have the best chance to thrive.

Find out more about Simona’s project.