Dr. Jessica Revill, a psychologist and bereaved parent, shares her journey and discusses the barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals in relation to mental health and identity. She reflects on the challenges of getting a diagnosis and support for her neurodivergent child in the 90s. The podcast also explores the education and support for neurodivergent individuals, the importance of seeking support for bereaved parents, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation in neurodivergent people.
Ableism plays a significant role in creating barriers for neurodivergent individuals, highlighting the need for a cultural shift in societal perspectives and support systems.
There is a need for comprehensive support systems and education for mental health professionals to better understand and address the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals.
Deep dives
Neurodivergent Challenges and Mental Health
Navigating the world can be challenging for neurodivergent individuals, particularly when mental health intersects with their identity. This podcast episode explores the story of Dr. Jessica Revel and her son Gregory, who was autistic. It discusses the unique difficulties faced by neurodivergent individuals and emphasizes the impact of ableism on their lives. The episode highlights the importance of recognizing signs of mental health struggles, even though they may not always be evident, and the need for broader support systems and education for both neurodivergent individuals and the general public.
The Impact of Ableism and the Need for Cultural Shift
A key theme in the podcast episode is the impact of ableism on neurodivergent individuals. It emphasizes the need for a cultural shift in perspective and understanding among allistic neurotypical people. The episode encourages shifting the focus from trying to change neurodivergent individuals to changing societal systems and dynamics. It emphasizes the importance of sensory adjustments in education and calls for a mental health curriculum that addresses neurological support, not just behavioral management.
Challenges in Accessing Mental Health Care and Support
The episode sheds light on the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals and their families when seeking mental health care and support. It discusses the lack of comprehensive support systems and the limited education healthcare professionals receive regarding cognitive impairment and developmental delay. The episode highlights the need for neurodivergent-specific suicide prevention services, as well as ongoing therapy and support for bereaved parents. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing and challenging internalized ableism within oneself.
The Importance of Grief Support and Changing Relationships
The podcast episode addresses the significant impact of grief on parents who have lost neurodivergent children to suicide. It highlights the importance of seeking support from grief counselors and joining support groups to navigate the ongoing process of grief. The episode emphasizes the need to let go of relationships that are unsupportive or do not understand the ongoing journey of bereavement. It acknowledges the importance of talking openly about the lost child and finding a sense of community with others who share the same experience.
For many neurodivergent people, a world built for neuronormative people provides unique challenges, especially when mental health intersects with their identity. In this episode, Emily is joined by Dr. Jessica Revill, a psychologist and bereaved parent, whose autistic son Gregory died by suicide. How did he understand his identity in a world that viewed neurodiversity differently? How did factors like ableism create barriers for him? And most crucially, what signs should we all be vigilant about to prevent such tragic losses in the neurodivergent community? Join us as we delve deeply into Jessica’s journey, and the imperative of suicide prevention.
The suicide prevention line is available 24 hours a day by calling or texting 988.
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Dr. Jessica Revill is a psychologist and a parent survivor to a son who died by suicide in 2020. Her autistic son, Gregory, developed tourettes, depression and possible psychosis which gradually robbed him of his will to live. Since his loss, his mother has written a memoir, “Find Him Among the Living”, and works within the suicide prevention space. She is an avid advocate of suicide prevention awareness and autism.