Supporting Students with Autism and Mental Health Challenges
This session will increase confidence and knowledge of MHLs and SMHPs providing mental health care to students with autism.
Autistic students experience mental health concerns at higher rates than their peers, yet these needs are often misunderstood, misattributed, or insufficiently supported.
This session for regulated school mental health professionals will provide an overview of common mental health challenges in students with autism. Evidence-based interventions to address mental health challenges as well as ways to adapt interventions to better suit the needs of students with autism will be explored.
This webinar will support school based mental health professionals to strengthen their understanding of the intersection between autism and mental health, with a focus on practical, evidence informed strategies that can be applied across diverse educational contexts.
Participants will explore how anxiety, mood, emotional regulation, and behavioural presentations may look different for autistic students, how systemic and environmental factors influence mental health, and how to adapt assessment, formulation, and intervention approaches in ways that are developmentally appropriate, neurodiversity affirming, and collaborative. The session will emphasize real world decision making, role clarity, and effective collaboration with families, educators, and community partners.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Differentiate autism‑related characteristics from mental health concerns to support accurateunderstanding, formulation, and response to student needs within school settings.Identifyevidence‑informed treatment strategies to support autistic students experiencing anxiety, mood difficulties, and emotional or behaviouralClarify professional roles to best support families and educators and assist in navigating pathways to care.Date:
August 26, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Audience:
Mental health leaders: Managers of clinical or mental health services, Managers of psychology services, Managers of social work services, Mental health leaders
School mental health professionals: Mental health clinicians/counsellors, Occupational therapists, Psychological associates, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social workers
Pre-requisite: Attendees must be a member of a regulated College
Language:This session will be delivered in English. Materials, breakout rooms, etc. will be available in French and English.
For more information or to register, contact your school board’s mental health leader.