Neurodiversity vs mental health

Living in a world that doesn’t understand these differences can be hard. It can make children feel pain and distress, or like they don’t belong.

This is not a symptom of mental illness and does not need treatment. These children need people who understand them, help them feel safe, and support their strengths.

Many neurodiverse children end up using mental health services. But these services, like CAMHS or MyTime, are made to treat mental illness. If a child’s struggles are caused by their environment, like school being too noisy or confusing, therapy might not help.

In these cases, changing the environment and giving the child the right support is what really makes a difference. When a child is upset, parents often feel upset too. That’s normal.