Dean's Grand Rounds - Invisible in Plain Sight: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Neurodiverse Youth

Young people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are increasingly falling through gaps in health, education, and social care systems. These gaps lead to school exclusions, delayed mental health support, and crisis-driven pathways that place children and young adults at risk of deterioration in mental and emotional well-being, isolation, self-harm, exploitation, and involvement with the youth justice system.

This Grand Round will highlight where systems are failing, explore the structural, clinical, and social challenges that leave neurodiverse children and young adults unsupported, and bring together experts to identify the gaps and struggles. The session is not presenting a finished solution, but aims to foster discussion, share evidence and local data, and collaboratively consider upstream interventions to prevent crises before they occur.

1. Introduction from Dr Deepa Bagepalli Krishnan, Dean's Grand Rounds Lead
2. Invisible in plain sight - Dr Nudrat Rizvi, Consultant Psychiatrist
3. Beyond the diagnosis: lived realities for autistic young people - Dr Katy Robson, Consultant Psychologist, ASD Clinical Lead
4. Council and Education Department perspective - Lisa Marie Smith, Birmingham City Council
5. The end of the pipeline: from exclusion to homelessness - Dr Amanda Skeate, St Basils (Youth Homelessness and Vulnerability Services)
6. Q&A

This event will take place online via Zoom. Please ensure you have access to:

• a reliable internet connection;
• a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone;
• Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or the Zoom app. (You do not need to have a Zoom account to attend.)

Some users may experience difficulty joining Zoom meetings due to security settings. If this is the case, we suggest you select the option to join via a web browser, rather than the Zoom app. If you cannot join on your computer you can join on your phone.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists assumes no responsibility if you cannot access this online event. Please read our Events Code of Conduct here.