New Zealand psychologists: Elevate your expertise with this CPD talk on anxiety and depression in neurodivergent individuals. Gain insights into unique symptomology, the impact of masking and trauma, and how to implement neurodiversity-affirming care across the lifespan.
This talk explores the complex relationship between anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence across the lifespan. Drawing on current research and clinical practice, it examines how mental health difficulties often present differently in neurodivergent individuals, how symptoms may be overlooked or misattributed, and why anxiety and depression are frequently more disabling than core neurodevelopmental traits. The presenter situates emotional distress within neurological, psychological, and systemic contexts, highlighting the roles of trauma, masking, environmental mismatch, and cumulative stress. Practical implications for recognition, differentiation, and neurodiversity-affirming support and intervention are discussed, with an emphasis on understanding the individual’s unique profile and lived experience.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to