Ep 18: Autism, mental health and moving beyond awareness with Patricia George Zwicker

Julie talks to Patricia George Zwicker, an autistic disability rights and mental health advocate from Nova Scotia. Autism is not a mental illness, but autistic people often struggle with co-occurring mental health conditions including anxiety, PTSD, OCD and depression. Patricia shares what it’s like to face the negative stigma and bias surrounding autism, the toll it takes on her mental health, and the urgent need for society to move beyond just talking about autism awareness to understanding and accepting autistics and providing the proper support they need.

Connect with Patricia George Zwicker:

Patricia George Zwicker on Twitter

Patriciageorge.ca

Resources mentioned:

The Unspoken Price of Advocacy – Patricia’s presentation at 2018 Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance (CASDA) Leadership Summit

NeuroTribes: the Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberrman

Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s head! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favourite episodes on social media and subscribe to the show so that you never miss an episode!

For more information about the show, visit mindofherownpodcast.com. You can also join the Facebook Group at facebook.com/groups/mindofherownpodcast, follow the show on Instagram and connect with Julie on Twitter at @julietrites.