A scoping review of warning signs for suicide among autistic people.

Abstract

Purpose of review We asked the following research questions: (1) What evidence exists that describes specific warning signs of suicide in autistic people? and (2) What gaps exist related to research on warning signs of suicide among autistic people? Recent findings Following the six-step approach for scoping reviews, we identified 15 sources that described potential warning signs of suicide in autistic people. The majority of sources were published between 2020 and 2025, and most sources were books or book chapters. Only one source explicitly defined ‘warning signs’. Robust research on warning signs of suicide in autistic people is lacking. Summary Most evidence on warning signs of suicide in autistic people exists from first-person narratives and fictional case examples. Two important next steps to advance the science and practice of suicide prevention include adopting a clear definition of warning signs consistently used by researchers and practitioners, and systematically evaluating warning signs of suicide in autistic people.