The National Autistic Society has responded to the King’s Speech which took place today (Wednesday 17 July 2024). The speech included changes to the Mental Health Act and the announcement of a Children’s Wellbeing Bill. 

Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “The inclusion of the Mental Health Act in the King’s Speech is a vital opportunity to change the law so autism is no longer defined as a ‘mental disorder’ and autistic people cannot be detained in mental health hospitals just for being autistic. Nearly 20,000 people joined our campaign to call for this long overdue change to the law. There are still more than 2,000 autistic people and people with learning disabilities stuck in mental health hospitals, and this is an important step towards ending this human rights scandal. 

“We will urge the Government to strengthen the bill before it is passed into law to make sure we have better mental health and social services in the community, to prevent autistic people from reaching crisis point in the first place. Since 2015, there has been a 116% rise in the number of autistic people without a learning disability being locked up in mental health hospitals. Alongside legislative reform, we need urgent investment in high quality and accessible community support for autistic people to end this crisis. 

"The Government plans for education are also welcome. An increased focus on recruitment of teachers is needed, but with only 26% of autistic pupils who say they feel happy at school, all school staff need specific training on autism to fully meet the needs of autistic children who are being let down by insufficient support."

Further information

• Find out more about our campaigning work on mental health.
• Read our advice and guidance about autism and mental health.
• Find out more about our campaigning work on education.
• Read our advice and guidance about education.