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Neurodiverse Connection - online meetup for neurodivergent adults: 

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Neurodiverse Connection - online meetup for neurodivergent adults: 

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Seen, Heard, Diverted - Olliers Solicitors and Greater Manchester Youth Network launch partnership to stem tide of prosecutions of neurodivergent children:

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Seen, Heard, Diverted - Olliers Solicitors and Greater Manchester Youth Network launch partnership to stem tide of prosecutions of neurodivergent children:

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Olliers Solicitors and Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) are launching a three-year programme aimed at reducing the number of neurodivergent youngsters falling foul of the criminal justice system.

The partnership comes as lawyers warn that the system is currently failing neurodivergent children, with autistic, ADHD and SEND youngsters making up the vast majority of young people going through the courts.

Data from University College London suggests that approximately 80% of children cautioned or sentenced in the youth justice system have special educational needs or are neurodivergent.

Frontline experience at Manchester-based criminal defence firm Olliers Solicitors reinforces a system that routinely mistakes neurodivergence for defiance, aggression or lack of remorse.

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GMYN pathways to progress work readiness

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Neurodiversity at work - Understanding neurodiversity

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Neurodiversity at work - Understanding neurodiversity

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Research report into how neurodiversity is managed in the workplace, produced for Acas by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).

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Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition

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Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition

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Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition

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Get help at work, including an Access to Work grant, if you have a disability or health condition - eligibility, how to apply.

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Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

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Bee Neuroinclusive Resource Hub | Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

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Explore our Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Practice for Employers within the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. Empower your organisation with inclusive practices, resources and insights to foster a workplace that values diversity, equity and accessibility.

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Healthcare Transition Workshops - Participation information sheet: 

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Healthcare Transition Workshops - Participation information sheet: 

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Healthcare Transition Workshops - Easy read information sheet: 

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Healthcare Transition Workshops - Easy read information sheet: 

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MFT Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - CAMHS

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MFT Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - CAMHS

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MFT CAMHS is a specialist NHS service that helps children and young people experiencing  mental, emotional or behavioural difficulties that interfere with their daily lives. We provide services across Manchester, Salford and Trafford for children and young people aged up to 18 years.

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What is CAMHS?

MFT CAMHS is a specialist NHS service that helps children and young people experiencing mental, emotional or behavioural difficulties that interfere with their daily lives. We provide services across Manchester, Salford and Trafford for children and young people aged up to 18 years. We can offer assessment, diagnosis and support through talking therapies, advice, and sometimes medication. We also work with families and schools to support children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing. The main goal is to help children and young people build on their strengths, resilience, and thrive in everyday life.

Our services are organised around the Thrive Framework. The framework emphasizes shared decision-making, community-based support, and empowering families to be active participants in their care journey. The Thrive framework consists of Getting Advice, Getting Help, Getting More Help, and Getting Risk Support components.

Supporting Young Persons Mental Health throughout Manchester, Trafford & Salford

I need advice, help or support with.....

Frequently Asked Questions

If you already know which CAMHS team you need, visit their page on this website to find out how to make a referral.

If you're not sure whether a CAMHS referral is right for you right now, check out our Advice section. You'll find self-help tips, local support options, and information about how to get referred to CAMHS if you decide that's the next step.

If you're under 16, your parent or carer usually needs to agree to the referral.

If you're 16 or 17, you can normally give your own consent, but it's often helpful if your parent or carer is involved too.

If you understand what the referral means - including the risks and benefits - you can usually make that decision yourself. If not, your parent or carer will need to give consent for you.

Yes. The information we have about you and your family or carers is kept private within MFT CAMHS and GMMH Services (if they're involved).

We would only share information if we're really worried that you or someone else might be at risk of harm. This is because we have a duty of care to help keep you and others safe.

Whenever possible, we'll explain what we need to share, why, and who with - before we do it.

It depends on the team or service. Some CAMHS teams have a waiting list, and some don't - and waiting times can be longer for certain services than others.

We know waiting can be hard, and we want you to feel supported while you wait. You can find ideas for support and self-help in the Advice section, and waiting time information for Core CAMHS and Neurodevelopmental services can be found here.

Whether you want to share something that's gone well or talk about something you're unhappy with, we want to hear from you. You can ask to speak to the service lead for your CAMHS team first - they might be able to sort things out quickly.

If this doesn't resolve your concern, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). PALS can help you share a complaint, compliment, or general feedback. They can listen to your concerns or feedback, give advice, and help you make a complaint if you want to.

You can find the contact details for MFT PALS on their website, or on this leaflet.

Your feedback - good or bad - helps us make CAMHS better for everyone.

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) - MFT

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A specialist NHS service helping children & young people with mental, emotional or behavioural difficulties in Manchester, Trafford & Salford.

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ongoing support for autistic people aged 18+ Manchester residents only

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ongoing support for autistic people aged 18+ Manchester residents only

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How does it work? AutismWISE stands for Wellbeing, Information, Support and Empowerment. We are a dedicated and inclusive service for Autistic residents across Manchester, designed to empower autistic people by…

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Reasonable adjustments in college and university

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Reasonable adjustments in college and university

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Reasonable adjustments in college and university | Disability charity Scope UK

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Under the Equality Act, disabled students have rights to reasonable adjustments at college and university to prevent disability discrimination in education.

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GMAC - Everything you need about autism and more.

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GMAC - Everything you need about autism and more.

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Everything you need about autism and more.

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Spectrum Gaming Padlet: Links, Information and Support across a range of topics.

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Spectrum Gaming Padlet: Links, Information and Support across a range of topics.

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If you are under 18, report online sexual abuse to one of our Child Protection Advisors at the CEOP Safety Centre.
Report now
If you're over 18, call 101 to speak to your local police.

If you're ever in immediate harm or danger:

Call the police on 999 straight away

Tell an adult you trust who will be able to support you through a difficult time

The Mix is a charity that provides free information and support for under 25s.
www.themix.org.uk
Use their crisis messenger by texting THEMIX to 85258.

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Information and advice for young people aged 11 to 18 about sex, relationships and the internet from CEOP Education at the National Crime Agency.

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Groups on Sundays 12pm-3pm for Young People with Additional Needs

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Additional Needs - Manchester Youth Zone

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Inclusion - Members with Disabilities / Additional Needs When we do things together, we make more friends and plans, and we all achieve so much more. No one gets left [...]

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Moss Side: Sense S.E.N.D Services Youth Group for children and young people aged up to 25 years.  

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Moss Side: Sense S.E.N.D Services Youth Group for children and young people aged up to 25 years.  

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Online or in Hulme: Manchester Peer Support Groups

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Online or in Hulme: Manchester Peer Support Groups

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Our Peer Support groups provide a safe place for young people to share, understand and give mutual support to other young people who are struggling with their mental health. Peer Support provides a confidential place where people can have a chat without judgement. By sharing and understanding, we create better wellbeing, increased self-esteem and confidence.
This peer support service is specific for young people aged 18-24 years old; they are run by volunteers who are the same age and are constantly shaped by everyone in the group.
You are able to control how much you engage and share in these groups; if joining a group feels too daunting, that is completely understandable, but know everyone is fully supported by our volunteers and peer support staff to ease into the groups at a manageable pace. Everyone is more than welcome and encouraged to share how they have been feeling, but helping and listening to others is still a great contribution to the group.

"When I was in a really dark period in my life having the group was so essential to me" Group Member

Scroll down to read more feedback from the members and volunteers in the groups.

Our groups

Our groups are held virtually and in-person. The groups are 'open', meaning that you are invited to every group. This is to allow for more flexibility; naturally, people will probably fit into a particular group based on their personal availability or group preference, however, this approach allows people to drop into a different group, if they miss their usual group and still want a space to talk.
Our groups take place on:
Tuesdays 3.30-5.30pm in person at the Zion Community Resource Centre in Hulme
Wednesday 5.30-7.30pm online (via Teams)
Thursdays 5.30-7.30pm online (via Teams) this is a Women and non-binary only space

1:1 support

Although the groups are run by volunteers, our Peer Support Development Worker is also available to have a 1:1 chat with anyone who might need it. This can be either during the sessions or at an alternative time. They are there to support you in whatever way makes more sense to you, so feel free to reach out at any time.

How to join our groups

If you are interested in joining one of our Peer Support groups, please complete the referral form below or get in touch for a chat where we can explain how the groups work in a bit more detail and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Then you can complete an assessment and join the group which will work best for you.

To arrange a chat

Call us on 0161 769 5732 between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday or send us an email.

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Peer Support Groups for Young People - Manchester Mind

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Our Peer Support groups provide a safe place for young people to share, understand and give mutual support to other young people who are struggling with their mental health.

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Moss Side: Sense S.E.N.D Services - Youth Group for children and young people aged up to 16 years. 

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Moss Side: Sense S.E.N.D Services - Youth Group for children and young people aged up to 16 years. 

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Groups in Gorton on Sundays 12pm-3pm

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INCLUSION At HideOut, we ensure our youth provision is inclusive, supports community cohesion, and provides an environment where members from diverse demographics, ethnic communities and those with additional needs or disabilities feel safe, involved and welcome. At HideOut we celebrate diversity an…

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We’ve pulled together resources direct from young people on a range of topics around being LGBTQ+ or supporting friends who are to create our new LGBTQ+ resource centre.

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Professional practice

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Title: AUTISM AND MENOPAUSE: MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

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Title: Autistic Women & Girls Conference Vlog|Purple Ella

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Title: The Failings of the Mental Health System for Autistic Women

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Title: PAST TWELVE: ASPERGERS AND TEENAGE YEARS

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Title: Autism and Relationships Part 1: Friendships | AUTISM IN GIRLS

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Title: 9 Childhood Autistic Traits in Girls | EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM

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Title: Autism and Relationships Part 2: Romantic Relationships | AUTISM IN GIRLS

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Title: I was Groomed as an Autistic Teen | AUTISM IN GIRLS

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Title: 10 More Female Autistic Traits | AUTISM IN GIRLS

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Title: Autism and Periods (+ Period Underwear Review and My Biggest Meltdown Ever) | AUTISM IN GIRLS

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More women and girls than ever before are discovering that they are autistic. Many had been missed or misdiagnosed due to outdated stereotypes about autism. But that is slowly changing.

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Autism Central for Parents and Carers | Autism Central

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Autism Central offers a wealth of resources for parents, carers and personal assistants of autistic people in England – from articles and learning materials to signposting you to services and support in your local area.

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Speak to our team whether you want advice and guidance regarding your emotional mental health and wellbeing or more focused help our trained teams are here to help children and young people.

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Speak to our team whether you want advice and guidance regarding your emotional mental health and wellbeing or more focused help our trained teams are here to help children and young people.

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Mental Health Support for 16-17 Year Olds

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Mental Health Support for 16-17 Year Olds

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Emerge CAMHS 16-17 CMFT - Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Sites - Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

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PAPYRUS: Prevention of Young Suicide and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

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PAPYRUS: Prevention of Young Suicide and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

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Skip to content

Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

My whole way of thinking has changed. I feel positive about my future and the people around me. I'm now looking forward to the future and helping others just like me!

Thank you so much for the incredible support PAPYRUS and HOPELINE247 has given me. You helped me in that moment and it kept me alive.

I intend to continue to fundraise for and promote PAPYRUS. I am so proud and humbled to be involved with a wonderful charity, and to have received the support that I have.

Having been personally bereaved by suicide I understand the importance and need for our charity. I am surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about saving lives.

* All feedback is provided by people who contact PAPYRUS. All feedback has full consent of the user and the user remains fully anonymous. Some feedback may have been adapted to keep the users anonymity.

Our latest news

Stay up to date with PAPYRUS; our news section is regularly updated with helpful advice and guidance, as well as information about our upcoming events and campaigns. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch.

Our upcoming events

Please see below some of our upcoming and exciting events including fundraisers and charity events we will be attending. For more information please get in touch.

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Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

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PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

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A Guide for Young People about what an Education, Health and Care Plan is.

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Hello! Welcome to the Mcr ND needs-led: Young Persons Padlet! 

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Hello! Welcome to the Mcr ND needs-led: Young Persons Padlet! 

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These are some resources which are available to you - or services within Manchester.

The following links are to resources and activities that we are aware of - these are not linked to our service.

If you think there is anything unhelpful or you would like to see added on this Padlet, please email: mft.centralmanchesterscp@nhs.net to let us know.

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Available free for iOS, Android and Windows devices.

STOPP app can be used to manage impulsivity; from self harm mitigation and suicide prevention to impulsive behaviours like over and under eating, gambling etc.

Between stimulus and response there is a space, in that space lies our power to choose or response. Viktor Frankl

FREE APPS

Download the STOPP App

The Decider Skills APP

Please follow links below to access the new app.
If you prefer music-free videos of the Web App: The Decider 12 Life Skills videos The Decider 32 Skills videos
The STOPP APP - demonstration video
STOPP Skill animated video
STOPP Skill - brief demonstration (no intro)
Webinar - STOPP Skill & the evidence STOPP Skill at Getselfhelp.co.uk
FREE APPS

Download the STOPP App
The Decider Skills APP
Please note the videos in the old versions of the app are not working. Please follow links below to access the new app.
If you prefer music-free videos of the Web App: The Decider 12 Life Skills videos The Decider 32 Skills videos Other resources The Decider Skills for Self Help book available from Amazon The Decider Skills online self help course Videos for everyone Where to find help

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The STOPP skill is a perfect example of CBT in action - an effective way to achieve a better outcome.

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World Autism Awanress Week: Q&A with Niall Aslam

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If you're a Cat Burns fan, you'll know her lyrics are honest.

It's something she wants to extend to her personal life too - which is why she's opened up about her recent ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.

The singer tells BBC Newsbeat the diagnosis has left her with a better understanding of herself, saying life now "makes sense".

But like lots of people, Cat's route to being diagnosed wasn't straightforward and she's sharing her story in the hope it helps others.

In 2021, the 23-year-old was told she had ADHD and then in April this year she tweeted to say she had also been diagnosed with ASD.

In the days after her ADHD diagnosis, Cat says she did a lot of reflecting on life leading up to it.

"It was non-stop, thinking about experiences in school like revising and studying and all the other things I struggled with daily," she says.

ADHD affects people's behaviour, resulting in symptoms like restlessness and trouble concentrating.

Although Cat's diagnosis was one step further to understanding herself, she still felt her brain was "different".

"I knew I had ADHD but I still felt there was a difference in my brain that I wanted to understand and explore.

"So once I got my autism diagnosis that helped me understand myself and just how much I've had to do in order to get to where I am."

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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Cat believes her road to diagnosis was harder because she's a woman and person of colour.

"I think it comes from the research that's out there and the idea lots believe women can't have autism, and then on top of that adults can't have autism," she says.

"It [research] needs to be across the board, but especially with women and black women."

Like most conditions, there are lists of symptoms for ADHD and ASD but Cat says they'll present differently depending on who you are.

One sign of autism is fidgeting, but, she points out, how a black woman fidgets will be different to a white man for example.

"I guess being a black woman, there's certain experiences we have that people won't be able to pick up on.

"For a black girl, it could be taking out her braids and putting them back in or something else to do with her culture that's overlooked."

Another way autism can manifest is a feeling of being overwhelmed when exposed to bright lights or loud noises.

You might think that would make performing difficult, but that's when Cat goes into "auto-pilot".

Although it was a song on TikTok that launched her career, she says performing is her bread and butter and the thing she enjoys those most.

The People Pleaser singer spoke to Newsbeat from the dressing room of London's iconic Jazz Café ahead of a gig.

She was there raising awareness for grassroots venues struggling with the cost of living for one of 150 gigs as part of the United By Music Tour.

According to the Music Venues Trust, which is behind the tour, 49 venues have closed within the last 12 months.

For Cat, that's a worrying prospect for the UK's music scene.

"There's an idea of up-and-coming artists that's incorrect," she says.

"We struggle financially when working out how we'll be able to go on tour and that's why it's so important to have these grassroot venues available for us to perform at."

Cat's used to big stages now, having performed at Glastonbury and the Brit Awards.

But reflecting on her own journey, she remembers being 16 and doing everything she could to get her first gig.

"Small venues are so needed. I remember emailing loads just asking them to let me perform so I could get used to being on stage.

"My first gig was at Off The Cuff in Herne Hill, which was my local. I learned so much and to this day it's still one of my favourite performances."

Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

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Cat Burns on autism, ADHD and a lack of research

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The singer opens up about being diagnosed as a black woman and why she wants more research to be done.

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actuallyautistic & Autism Advocate! Just a 20-yr old autistic girl trying to vibe in this world while doing something I think is important. Let's smash autism stereotypes and help autistics everywhere understand themselves better.

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We are delighted to announce that TV star and professional dancer, Tom Malone Jnr, has become our new Celebrity Ambassador.

Tom, who is autistic and has starred in television programmes including Channel 4's Gogglebox, will help to amplify our work to transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.

Tom was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 28 and bravely shared his own diagnosis journey with his followers on social media earlier this year. He was widely praised for talking about his experiences and helping other autistic people to share their stories too. Tom will join our annual event, World Autism Acceptance Week, which runs from March 27 to April 2 2023. The theme of next year's event is colour with a new virtual challenge, the Spectrum Colour Challenge, and a new in-person event, the Spectrum Colour Walks, along with lots of other fundraising ideas.
Tom Malone Jnr said: "After being diagnosed as autistic at age 28, I've become very passionate about improving understanding of autism along with breaking down stereotypes and stigmas. So that being said, I'm so incredibly proud to be able to say that I'm now an official ambassador for the National Autistic Society!" "Almost everyone has heard of autism now, but too few people understand what it's like to be autistic, both how hard life can be without the right support and the different perspectives, passions and skills autistic children and adults can have.    "This is changing, thanks to people like Tom, who share their experiences so openly. But we still need to hear more from autistic people and families with a wide range of support needs and from a diverse range of backgrounds. "Better public understanding of autism across society could transform hundreds of thousands of autistic people's lives."
Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said: "We are delighted to welcome Tom on board as Celebrity Ambassador and greatly appreciate his time and support for our charity.

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Autistic TV star Tom Malone Jnr is our new Celebrity Ambassador

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Autistic TV star Tom Malone Jnr is our new Celebrity Ambassador

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The COVID-19 pandemic gave a lot of us time and space to get to know ourselves a little better. And for Prison Break actor Wentworth Miller, being in quarantine led to an autism diagnosis. Miller, who revealed his diagnosis on Instagram this week, said it was "a shock, but not a surprise."

Miller wrote, "Like everyone, life in quarantine took things from me. But in the quiet/isolation, I found unexpected gifts." As of this fall, it will be one year "since I received my informal autism diagnosis. Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis," he said.

"It was a long, flawed process in need of updating. IMO. I'm a middle-aged man. Not a 5-year-old," he said. But, at the same time, Miller recognized that having "access to a diagnosis is a privilege many do not enjoy."

The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder typically appear in early childhood, the Mayo Clinic says, and can include issues with social interaction, such as a child not responding to their name, having trouble keeping a conversation going, or not holding eye contact. But that doesn't mean that people can't be diagnosed later in life.

Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder in adults can be challenging, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). That's partly because the way autism symptoms manifest in adults may overlap with symptoms of mental health issues, such as anxiety or ADHD. The diagnostic process typically involves the help of a specialist, like a neuropsychologist or a psychiatrist, who will ask about challenges in social interactions and any repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, or limited interests, the NIMH says. A person's developmental history may provide useful information here as well.

Although Miller knows that revealing his diagnosis publicly will put him in a position to speak to a wide audience about autism, he says he's still learning about all the nuances of the topic, including turning to people in the autistic and neurodivergent communities on social media. "Right now my work looks like evolving my understanding. Re-examining five decades of lived experience thru a new lens. That will take time," he says. "Meanwhile, I don't want to run the risk of suddenly being a loud, ill-informed voice in the room."

Miller also made a point to thank those who've given him "that extra bit of grace and space over the years" and allowed him to "move through the world in a way that made sense" to him, whether or not it made sense to them. Ultimately, Miller says that being autistic is not something he's trying to change about himself. On the contrary, he "got immediately" that it's "central to who I am. To everything I've achieved/articulated."
Related:

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Wentworth Miller Reveals He Was Diagnosed With Autism: 'Being Autistic Is Central to Who I Am'

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The COVID-19 pandemic gave a lot of us time and space to get to know ourselves a little better. And for Prison Break actor Wentworth Miller, being in quarantine led to an autism diagnosis. Miller, who revealed his diagnosis on Instagram this week, said it was "a shock, but not a surprise."

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Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone,
by email and through Instant Messaging.
Find out more here.

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Call Samaritans 116 123 (Free from any phone) or call: 0330 094 5717 

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Call Samaritans 116 123 (Free from any phone) or call: 0330 094 5717 

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Offering Virtual Meet Ups for Young People aged 13+

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Supporting the wellbeing of LGBT+ Young People

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Supporting the wellbeing of LGBT+ Young People

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It's very common for LGBTQ+ young people (and adults) to have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety because this is something they have been struggling with.

Many LGBTQ+ young people are also - even today - bullied in school or college, which can have an additional detrimental effect on their wellbeing.

45% of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils in schools experience bullying because of their sexual orientation

64% of trans young people in schools experience bullying

3 in 5 lesbian, gay and bisexual young people self-harm

4 in 5 trans young people self-harm

1 in 5 young lesbian, gay and bisexual students has tried to end their life

2 in 5 young trans students have tried to end their life

These numbers (from the Stonewall School Report, 2017) are improving, but they are still a major concern.

Finding the right mental health support

If your child or friend is coming out as LGBTQ+, or even if they are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, it is very likely that they will experience mental health issues to some degree. As a parent, carer or friend it is absolutely crucial that you make sure they have appropriate mental health support.

You can refer someone to the BeYou project for a range of support or browse our resources pages. You can also visit your GP for advice.

Mind Out is a mental health service run by and for LGBTQ+ people with experience of mental health issues, their website has some useful information and support available too.

Safety and sexual health

It's very likely that your child or friend will not have received adequate information about sexual health. Stonewall (2017) reported that only 1 in 5 young people have been taught about safe sex in LGB relationships at school. For advice around this visit, for example, lgbt.foundation/sexualhealth, go to our resources page or visit your local sexual health clinic.

There is a lot of information online about being LGBTQ+ and a lot of it is not safe. Safe sources of information can be found on this page and on our resources page.

Talk to your child about where they get their information and online safety. Following someone on Instagram might be fun - even inspirational - but it should not be treated as a main source of information and advice regarding sexual health, transitioning, hormonal therapies or relationships.

It is also common for young people to meet people online who they later on decide to meet in person. This could be a risk to their safety and they need to be aware of the dangers of online dating and speaking to strangers over the internet.

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Supporting a young person's safety and wellbeing

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It's very common for LGBTQ+ young people (and adults) to have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety because this is something they have been struggling with. Many LGBTQ+ young people are also - even today - bullied in school or college, which can have an additional detrimental effect on their wellbeing.

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Facebook Page sharing resources, events and personal interests for females on the Autism Spectrum.

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Use our interactive map to find your nearest youth group and meet other LGBT+ young people.

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Greta Thunberg is no stranger to being vocal about important issues when it comes to discussing the climate crisis. In a new interview with The Guardian, the 18-year-old activist also opened up a little about her personal life, particularly on the subject of her autism diagnosis, which she's previously referred to as her "superpower."

While speaking with Simon Hattenstone, Greta shared that being diagnosed with autism provided a great deal of relief for her. "When I felt the most sad, I didn't know that I had autism," she explained. "I just thought, I don't want to be like this. The diagnosis was almost only positive for me. It helped me get the support I needed and made me understand why I was like this."

Greta also reflected on her prior description of Asperger's syndrome as her "superpower," which she first shared in an Instagram post back in 2019. At the time, she explained, "I have Asperger's syndrome and that means I'm sometimes a bit different from the norm. And - given the right circumstances - being different is a superpower."

In talking with The Guardian, Greta expanded on that idea, sharing how being autistic has helped her in the fight for climate justice. "A lot of people with autism have a special interest that they can sit and do for an eternity without getting bored," she explained. "It's a very useful thing sometimes. Autism can be something that holds you back, but if you get to the right circumstance, if you are around the right people, if you get the adaptations that you need and you feel you have a purpose, then it can be something you can use for good. And I think that I'm doing that now."

The young activist recently returned to school after taking a gap year and time off due to the pandemic. But the climate crisis is still at the forefront of Greta's mind - even if she's tired of talking about it, as she recently told Trevor Noah. "The climate crisis hasn't been treated as an emergency that is already taking lives and livelihoods for so many people around the world, and so it's only going to get worse," Greta said while appearing on The Daily Show earlier this month, pointing out that the pandemic showed us the urgency of responding a crisis. "I mean, just look at the [COVID] pandemic. We were able to seemingly just magically make up lots of money out of nowhere. It's much more expensive to wait and deal with the consequences of the climate crisis later on than actually taking climate action now."

In speaking with The Guardian, Greta added that she's found solidarity among other climate activists, particularly other young activists who also have autism. "In the Fridays for Future movement, so many people are like me," Greta explained, describing her fellow activists as "inclusive and welcoming." She went on to explain the impact on her mental health of working alongside like-minded people, adding, "I know lots of people who have been depressed, and then they have joined the climate movement or Fridays for Future and have found a purpose in life and found friendship and a community that they are welcome in."

Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.

Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Greta Thunberg Is 'Vogue' Scandinavia's First Cover Star

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Greta Thunberg Recalls Being Relieved By Her Autism Diagnosis

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Greta Thunberg is no stranger to being vocal about important issues when it comes to discussing the climate crisis. In a new interview with The Guardian , the 18-year-old activist also opened up a little about her personal life, particularly on the subject of her autism diagnosis, which she's previously referred to as her "superpower."

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LGBT+ Support for Young People aged 13-25

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LGBT+ Support for Young People aged 13-25

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at home or from their families and communities

from friends and other young people, whether at school, online or in other ways

from boyfriends, girlfriends, partners or people they are in a relationship or having sex with

from older adults, whether LGBT+ or non-LGBT+

from neighbours and members of the public

We work with young people who:

want a space to talk about what's happening and think through their options

need help and those who don't know what to do about their situation

are not sure if what is happening is abuse

are homeless or might be homeless because of what's happening

Our young people's service is confidential, friendly and effective in helping young people be safe and well.

We actively include all lesbian, gay, bi, pan, queer, ace, aro, trans, non-binary, genderqueer, gender fluid and intersex young people. We work with young people who aren't sure about their identity. Over half of the LGBT+ young people we work with are young people of colour, who face multiple forms of marginalisation due to their identity.

If you live outside London, we will try to link you in with a suitable service if you need specific help for your situation but you are welcome to talk to us to get advice and think about your options.

If someone at home is abusing you and you want to speak with someone, you can call the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428. If you need extra help, the Helpline will put you in touch with one of our staff to work with you.

What we offer and how we work

Here is an idea of what we do but you don't need to know what you want before you contact us. Just get in touch - we'll work out the rest with you.

Advocacy and Casework

Advocacy means we take actions on your behalf to try to make your situation better. Our advocates will risk assess your situation and then work out a plan to try to make things better for you.

We can liaise with the police, Children's/Adult's Services, mental health services, GPs, sexual health, gender identity clinics, school/college/university etc.

We know how the systems work and we can take part in multi-agency meetings when professionals get together to help. We can act as your voice and in your best interests in these meetings.

We can also help to get things sorted out in your life, like housing, benefits, education and work. We might work with partner organisations on these issues, so you get the help and support you need.

We can also help you network with other LGBT+ young people and help you access youth groups, networks and activities that suit you.

Advice

You may want some advice about your situation. You may want to know about your options, what help is out there, and what might happen next if you report to the police or tell someone else about what is happening.

We will also try to answer your questions honestly and clearly. You can ask us about anything about being LGBT+. If we don't know, we'll try to find out and if we are not the best people to answer that question, we will help you access the people who are.

Our advocates can give you information and advice. Our job is to empower you to make the choices that are right for you. We can explain how other agencies work and what your rights are.

We also give information about abuse and advice about safety. We can help you make a personal safety plan, as well as giving advice about how to leave an abusive situation safely. We have ways of making sure communication is safe.

Emotional Support

It is great to be LGBT+ but coming out isn't easy and being an LGBT+ young person facing abuse makes it extra tough. We are here to listen. We are here to support you.

Our service offers emotional support to LGBT+ young people going through difficult times. We believe life can be safe and happy and you can thrive as a human being. We are here to help you get to your better future.

Sexual Violence

We have a specialist advocate who works with LGBT+ children and young people who have experienced sexual violence or exploitation, called a CHISVA.

The CHISVA knows how the criminal justice system works, so can help if you want to know about reporting to the police or there is a police investigation happening. They can support you at appointments and at court.

Parents and Partners

For some LGBT+ young people, it is parents, partners and/or friends who are the people being abusive. In this situation, will not talk to those people about working with you. We create a safe space for you and we will not let abusive people into that space.

For other LGBT+ young people, parents, partners, and/or friends are helpful and supportive. In this case, with your permission, we can offer information and advice to the people around you who are trying to help. Sometimes they might not know how to help and we can give advice.

Confidentiality

Our young people's service is independent and confidential. This means we won't tell anyone outside of Galop about what's happening, unless there is a safeguarding issue.

Our job is to try to make your life safer. Quite often, the people and agencies around you do not realise how difficult things can be for LGBT+ young people. Our advocates are very good at making sure your situation is understood properly by other agencies who have responsibilities to help. This means that advocacy work often involves a lot of liaison with other agencies.

When you come into our service, we will ask you to fill out a consent form, which tells you all about confidentiality and when we might need to speak to an external agency on your behalf. Our aim is to work with you on your support and advocacy plan, so contact with external agencies is agreed.

What if I'm not out?

Coming out is a process and you may not be out to anyone else, or only to some people. If other people find out about your sexuality or gender identity, it might make life much more difficult for you. We understand this and we know how worried young people can feel about it.

We will talk with you about what name and pronouns you want us to use in our confidential work with you. We support you to be who you know yourself to be and will respect this in our one-to-one contact with you.

If you need us to use a different name and pronouns when we contact someone else on your behalf, we can do this. We understand how complicated and worrying this can be for LGBT+ young people, so your advocate will talk it through with you.

Safeguarding

There is one situation when we might have to break our confidentiality agreement and that is when we think you are at immediate risk of harm or your situation is life-threatening. We have a duty under legislation to disclose information to prevent harm and save lives, for example if you are threatened by someone else or if you are feeling suicidal.

If you are aged 13 to 17, you are legally defined as a child in UK law. Safeguarding of children is very important, so we will always respond to safeguarding concerns about an LGBT+ child.

We take safeguarding seriously because we want LGBT+ young people to be free from abuse and harm. We know that young people often keep quiet about a situation for a long time and that things can change quickly, so sometimes we have to act fast to make sure you're OK. We always take action because we believe it is in your best interests.

We are also required to speak to another agency if you tell us about a crime you have committed or about another child or young person who is at risk of abuse.

We have a procedure for safeguarding at Galop. Your advocate will always speak to the Designated Safeguarding Office for Galop as a whole. We aim to come up with a plan to help you and we will do our best to include you in this, so you feel empowered.

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free, confidential and independent support for LGBT+ young people aged 13 to 25. We support young people who are experiencing or worried about abuse

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42nd Street’s vision is for inclusive, accessible mental health and wellbeing support and opportunities for all young people.

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Your Internet Explorer 11 browser is not supported by this site. Please upgrade to a recent browser for the best experience.

Pride Stories

Tom Moran
- on navigating LGBTQ+ spaces as an autistic person

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As a gay autistic man, it is almost as if I have two identities.

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Tom Moran, autistic man and a member of the LGBTQ+ community

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You can send a text to Shout on 85258 for confidential support 24 hours a day. 

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You can send a text to Shout on 85258 for confidential support 24 hours a day. 

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Contact Number for Under 18's available 24 hours a day

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Online or in Hulme: Manchester Peer Support Groups

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Online or in Hulme: Manchester Peer Support Groups

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Our Peer Support groups provide a safe place for young people to share, understand and give mutual support to other young people who are struggling with their mental health. Peer Support provides a confidential place where people can have a chat without judgement. By sharing and understanding, we create better wellbeing, increased self-esteem and confidence.
This peer support service is specific for young people aged 18-24 years old; they are run by volunteers who are the same age and are constantly shaped by everyone in the group.
You are able to control how much you engage and share in these groups; if joining a group feels too daunting, that is completely understandable, but know everyone is fully supported by our volunteers and peer support staff to ease into the groups at a manageable pace. Everyone is more than welcome and encouraged to share how they have been feeling, but helping and listening to others is still a great contribution to the group.

"When I was in a really dark period in my life having the group was so essential to me" Group Member

Scroll down to read more feedback from the members and volunteers in the groups.

Our groups

Our groups are held virtually and in-person. The groups are 'open', meaning that you are invited to every group. This is to allow for more flexibility; naturally, people will probably fit into a particular group based on their personal availability or group preference, however, this approach allows people to drop into a different group, if they miss their usual group and still want a space to talk.
Our groups take place on:
Tuesdays 3.30-5.30pm in person at the Zion Community Resource Centre in Hulme
Wednesday 5.30-7.30pm online (via Teams)
Thursdays 5.30-7.30pm online (via Teams) this is a Women and non-binary only space

1:1 support

Although the groups are run by volunteers, our Peer Support Development Worker is also available to have a 1:1 chat with anyone who might need it. This can be either during the sessions or at an alternative time. They are there to support you in whatever way makes more sense to you, so feel free to reach out at any time.

How to join our groups

If you are interested in joining one of our Peer Support groups, please complete the referral form below or get in touch for a chat where we can explain how the groups work in a bit more detail and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Then you can complete an assessment and join the group which will work best for you.

To arrange a chat

Call us on 0161 769 5732 between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday or send us an email.

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Peer Support Groups for Young People - Manchester Mind

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Our Peer Support groups provide a safe place for young people to share, understand and give mutual support to other young people who are struggling with their mental health.

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Online and Greater Manchester: Spectrum Gaming - Up to the age of 17 Years Old

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Online and Greater Manchester: Spectrum Gaming - Up to the age of 17 Years Old

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Spectrum Gaming is an online community for autistic young people. The aims of Spectrum Gaming are to enable autistic young people to develop meaningful friendships; to help them understand and develop a positive perspective of their differences; and to advocate for the needs of autistic young people

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4 times as many boys are diagnosed autistic as girls. This is not an accurate picture.

Frequently, for many reasons, girls are diagnosed later (on average up to 6 years later), missed or misdiagnosed, causing long term mental health problems with too many girls feeling too anxious to attend school as a result.

Currently the assessment tools used to screen for autism are male-centric. We want to see tools in place that reflect multiple presentations and needs so that no child's need goes unrecognised or unsupported. We are currently pilot-validating the Internal Presentation of Autism Checklist that sits within our white paper Autism, Girls and Keeping it All Inside , so expect that to change soon. Our survey had 1123 responses in a week, so there are many people who feel strongly about having screening tools which feel representative. Our vision is for a system that enables autistic girls to thrive, to feel understood and to achieve the best educational outcomes.

Our aim is to raise awareness of autism in girls and others who present in an internal way with health, social care and educational professionals and to bring change. Not only to the way that autistic girls are assessed and subsequently supported but to the narrative, with updated and positive terminology used to describe autistic traits.

Our private Facebook group supports both autistic girls and women and their extended families, but there are many more who need our help. We are now a registered charity, fundraising to enable us to both fund projects which offer face to face support and campaign for real change.

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We are a small registered charity working to support, educate, and bring change. Here you will find lots of resources.

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Yellow Ladybugs is an autistic-led, non-government organisation with strong bridges to the community. We are dedicated to the happiness, success and celebration of autistic girls and women ¹. We believe autistic individuals of all genders deserve to be recognised, valued, accepted and supported in order to realise their full potential.

Yellow Ladybugs runs regular informal social events that offer peer-to-peer connections for autistic girls and gender diverse young people, generally between the ages of five and sixteen. Our events bring our members together in an inclusive, fun and sensory-friendly setting. Underpinning every Yellow Ladybugs event, our mission is to foster a sense of belonging, to help our autistic members connect with their peers, and to instil a sense of autistic pride within our community.

We are also committed to being part of the growing conversation around the specific challenges and support needs of autistic girls, women and gender diverse individuals. We actively seek to address the many challenges the autistic community face, including barriers to diagnosis, lack of inclusion in school and employment, and access to support services.

Yellow Ladybugs is an inclusive organisation, and while we have a particular focus on autistic girls and women, we recognise all genders, and welcome trans and gender diverse autistic individuals into our community. We consider that the different presentations of autism exist across all genders, and as an organisation, we seek to dismantle all stereotypes which are harmful to the autistic community. We know that autistic girls and women, and particularly those with hidden needs, and a more internalised presentation, continue to be significantly disadvantaged, however, and we remain committed to our mission to reduce these disadvantages.

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LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.

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The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ organisation that supports LGBT+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs and the Proud Connections chat service.

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous

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A website about autism, for autistic young people - so that everyone can gain a better understanding of what autism actually is.

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I AM - Celebrating Autism in Greater Manchester

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Specialised 1-2-1 support

We provide specialised 1-2-1 support for a variety of needs to both members and non-members.

Aspirations - social and leisure activities

Aspirations has been running for over 20 years, providing a wide range of social and leisure activities for young people and adults from the age of ten upwards.

Parents and carers group

It's not just people on the autistic spectrum who can benefit from coming together and sharing experiences in our groups.

I AM - a community working with and supporting a wide range of people, aged 10 years and upwards, who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition.

£15 COULD BUY

Something for a young person aged 10 to 18 e.g. a youth group session.

£30 COULD BUY

Something for 18 + e.g. a support session.

£50 COULD BUY

Something for an elderly person e.g. life skills development.

Who we support?

The different terms used to describe the autism spectrum can be confusing and have changed over time. In recent years there have been changes to the systems that professionals use to make a diagnosis and diagnostic categories have changed. The most used term now is Autistic Spectrum Condition.

This means that people who have recently had an assessment are most likely to be given a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition.

Our community understands the challenges that ASC can bring. We have the knowledge, experience and passion to help individuals and families work through them towards a happier place with autism as a part of their daily lives.

Our mission is to create communities of support across Greater Manchester for people on the autistic spectrum which enable personal and professional development.

I AM - Celebrating Autism Greater Manchester

Set up to work with people with a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism. We only work with people who have had an assessment and received a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition (or one of the previously used terms).

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Specialised 1-2-1 support We provide specialised 1-2-1 support for a variety of needs to both members and non-members. Read MoreAspirations - social and leisure activities Aspirations has been running for over 20 years, providing a

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Reasonable adjustments in college and university

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Reasonable adjustments in college and university

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Reasonable adjustments in college and university | Disability charity Scope UK

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Under the Equality Act, disabled students have rights to reasonable adjustments at college and university to prevent disability discrimination in education.

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Resolving SEND Disagreements for Young People

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Resolving SEND Disagreements for Young People

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Reasonable adjustments in the work place:

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Reasonable adjustments in the work place:

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Adjustments for neurodiversity - Reasonable adjustments at work - Acas

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How to support neurodivergent employees at work with reasonable adjustments, including examples and whether someone needs a diagnosis.