MENTAL HEALTH IS MULTI-FACETED.

I knew of a man once who had a post-1986 model four-wheel drive. This man was one of these people who thought he knew everything, but was a danger to himself. Thinking he could get better fuel economy and better running, he removed the catalytic converter from his four-wheel drive, and began running it on leaded petrol.

Now picture the converse. You had a pre-1986 model car and you decided to run it on unleaded petrol. You think it's okay. You book the car in for a 160,000km service, and the mechanic checks the valve clearance. You go and see the mechanic to pick up your car, and they're waiting for you. The mechanic asks, "What sort of petrol are you running this car on?"

"Unleaded," you reply.

The mechanic draws in their breath sharply and says, "Who told you that you could or should do this?"

"Well, I saw an advertisement on TV that said, "No lead, no worries.""

"Well," begins the mechanic, "let me tell you something. Cars that run on leaded petrol have soft valve seats, while cars that run on unleaded have hard valve seats. You may think that you're helping the environment, but you're giving your car's engine hell by doing so, and damaging the valve seats."

"But, but, I'm trying to do the right thing."

"Well, I've got some stuff here called Valve Master, and you put it into your tank. That will help you."

Just like cars that have leaded petrol engines are designed to run on leaded petrol and unleaded on unleaded, mental health services that are meant for neuro-typical folk are not right for autistics. That is not to say that autistic people shouldn't get help for mental health problems, but that those helping them need a knowledge of autism.

The autistic brain is different to the neuro-typical brain, and while every autistic brain is different, so is the autistic brain from the neuro-typical brain. Autistic people can experience depression, anxiety as well as bipolar and schizophrenia. And let's not forget with bipolar, some bipolar people, such as Spike Milligan, are very creative and when in the manic phase, can go for days without sleeping, and their creative output is very high. Days later, they may crash and burn.

Unlike, say, a person who has arthritis and an underactive or overactive thyroid, who may need a rheumatologist for their arthritis and an endocrinologist for their thyroid, an autistic person with a mental illness NEEDS a mental health professional who understands BOTH, not just one.

The tenets I have of my mental health (I have depression and anxiety) are:

1. A great GP. My GP is willing to learn as much as she can about autism from me. She also understands that I would not want to be cured of my autism, even if such a cure existed. She also understands that for autistic people who have survived abuse it is far harder for us to "forget" it.
2. Nutsy. Having a pet to love (and who loves you unconditionally) is extremely important. People say that you need someone to love, but not everyone is a people person and for people who may despair of not having a partner, there are plenty of animals looking for loving homes to go to.
3. Shigemi (my car). I know there are people who drive Japanese cars who don't give the country of manufacture a second thought, and others who aren't interested in Japan, and there are others who are interested in Japan who don't drive Japanese cars. They may be neuro-typical. For me, having a car that's made in Japan is an extra-articular manifestation of my interest in Japan, just like my spectacle frames and my watch.
4. Treating my thyroid. Physical health problems can impact upon mental health and vice-versa.
5. Finding my tribe. Just like not all Australians like all other Australians (heck, roughly half the population votes Labor and half votes Liberal) not all autistic people will like ALL other autistic people, but we all need to find likeminded people.
6. My mother FINALLY accepting that she has an autistic son. I know somebody who is a transman, whose parents don't talk to him anymore. Yes, you can become annoyed with family members, and yes, I know it can be challenging for parents who've given birth to a child of one gender to learn that their child is the opposite, just like it can be challenging to find that the child you hoped would bring you grandchildren will only be able to do so through a sperm donor or surrogate, but that is not grounds to cut off your child. Yes, it can be challenging for a parent to accept their child is autistic, BUT, denial is a river in Egypt.

Autistic people are entitled to respect and they are entitled to care that is respectful of their gender, their culture and their preferences and circumstances. And let us not forget that SOME autistic women can better relate to men and SOME autistic men to women. This is a fundamental tenet of health care for autistic children and adults and one that we must see enshrined in care obligations.