Autistic, Schizophrenic, And In Drug And Alcohol Recovery

Join David Gray-Hammond; Autistic, Schizophrenic, and in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, for a raw and deeply insightful exploration of life inside psychiatric and detox wards through an Autistic lens.

Drawing on both lived experience and professional expertise, David examines how neurodivergence shapes the inpatient experience: from the “burnout-to-psychosis” cycle and the role of monotropism in mental health, to why Autistic people may turn to substances and how systems so often fail to understand us.

This presentation connects personal narrative with community knowledge, reframing mental health crises not as disorders within individuals, but as consequences of environments ill-suited to Autistic needs. Attendees will gain practical and philosophical insight into:

• Supporting Autistic inpatients and people in recovery

• Understanding the overlap between burnout, psychosis, and substance use

• Applying neurodivergent-competent frameworks to care settings

Delivered online and followed by live Q&A, this talk offers both professionals and community members a chance to rethink how inpatient care can become safer, more humane, and genuinely neurodivergent-competent.