What is depression?
Depression is a condition that affects mood, thinking, and daily life.
Common signs include:
- feeling low, empty, or unable to enjoy things
- low energy or constant tiredness
- changes in sleep (too much or too little)
- changes in appetite
- difficulty thinking, focusing, or making decisions
- feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty
- thinking about death or not wanting to be alive
These experiences last for weeks or longer and affect everyday life.
Depression or low mood?
Everyone experiences low mood at times. Low mood is a normal response to life events.
Low mood can happen when:
- something difficult happens
- a person feels overwhelmed
- a person is tired or unwell
Low mood usually:
- has a clear cause
- improves with time or rest
- does not stop a person from doing most daily activities
Depression is different. It:
- lasts longer
- affects more areas of life
- makes everyday tasks much harder
Depression is more likely when:
- symptoms are present most of the day, nearly every day
- it continues for 2 weeks or more
- daily life is affected (self-care, school, work, relationships)
- the person cannot return to their usual level of functioning
- there is a loss of interest in things the person usually enjoys
Depression can range from mild to severe and can change from day to day.
How is depression different for an autistic person?
Depression is a mental health condition, but it may look different, be harder to recognise or be misunderstood as “just part of autism”.
Autistic people may not describe their feelings in the same way. Some may use few or no words to describe emotions.
Some autistic people experience alexithymia:
- difficulty identifying and describing feelings
- feeling distress without knowing what the feeling is
- describing physical sensations instead (for example, “I feel tight” or “I feel strange”)
This can make it harder to notice depression early or ask for help before reaching crisis. Changes may be noticed by others before the person understands how they feel. Often it is a parent or carer that uses pattern spotting to identify signs of depression.
What does depression look like in an autistic person?
There is no one pattern. Each person is different.
Changes are often seen by comparing to the person’s usual behaviours, patterns or activities of daily living.
Possible signs include:
- more shutdowns (becoming very quiet or withdrawn)
- spending more time alone
- loss of interest in special interests (often an early warning sign)
- increased sensory sensitivity
- more distress in everyday situations
- more difficulty communicating
- more stimming or the use of unhealthy stims
- more difficulty starting or completing tasks
Depression may not always look like sadness. The person may appear flat, numb or seem more tired or irritable.
Some autistic people experience inertia:
- difficulty starting, stopping, or switching tasks
- this may become more severe during depression
For example, wanting to get out of bed but being unable to begin
For people who use few or no words or language delay/difficulties, depression may show as:
- changes in behaviour
- changes in sleep or eating
- reduced activity
- increased distress
Prevalence of depression in autistic people
Research shows autistic people are much more likely to experience depression than non-autistic people and depression can affect children, young people, and adults – and commonly starts in young adulthood.
Exact numbers vary because depression is not always recognised in autistic people and is often misunderstood.
Depression is often linked to a range of factors. For autistic people, it often develops when needs are not understood or met over time. This is often related to environment and life experiences. These factors often overlap. Over time, this can increase stress and lead to depression if needs are not understood or supported.
What may increase the risk of depression in someone who is autistic?
Some autistic people may be more likely to experience depression
This includes people who:
- experience high levels of masking due to the ongoing effort to appear non-autistic
- feel socially isolated or lonely due to feeling different or misunderstood or having difficulty forming or maintaining relationships
- have been subjected to negative experiences like being bullied or excluded
- have limited support networks
- experience high sensory stress or other unmet needs
- have co-occurring anxiety or other mental health factors
- have experienced burnout due to exhaustion in the past
- have difficulty with uncertainty or unexpected change and need to have predictability
- are in environments that do not meet sensory or communication needs
- have a lack of understanding from others around them
- have difficulty accessing the right support or struggle with long waiting times
Other factors that can increase risk
Depression does not have a single cause. It often develops due to a mix of factors over time.
Some factors can increase the likelihood of depression for anyone. Autistic people may be more likely to experience some of these.
These include:
Health and biology
- family history of depression
- long-term physical health conditions
- sleep difficulties
- hormonal changes (for example menopause)
Personality
- rumination or over thinking emotions repeatedly
- low self-esteem and being overly self-critical
Life experiences
- childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect
- discrimination or stigma and bullying
- long‑term stress
- major life changes (for example moving home or loss)
Daily living factors
- difficulties with employment
- insecure or unsuitable housing
- problems with alcohol or drugs
These factors do not mean someone will develop depression. They increase the risk but do not cause it on their own
Key points
- Depression is more than low mood
- It lasts longer and affects daily life
- Autistic people may show depression differently
- Changes from a person’s usual pattern are important
- Loss of interest in special interests can be an early sign
- Alexithymia and inertia can make depression harder to notice
- Depression is often linked to unmet needs and life experiences
For information on getting help in a mental health emergency or crisis, click here
For resources and services to support with emotional health and wellbeing, click here
