This page has information for people waiting for an assessment with Tameside and Glossop adult autism assessment service.

Pre-assessment support

Waiting for an autism assessment can bring a range of thoughts, questions, and emotions. Many people find this period uncertain or challenging, particularly when you are seeking answers about yourself or support for your daily life.

Exploring your identity during this time can help make sense of your strengths, challenges and personal history, while developing greater self-understanding and self-acceptance.

This information has been developed to help you make the most of the time while you are waiting for your assessment. It provides practical advice, details of local support services, resources, and strategies that may be helpful.

These resources may also be helpful for family members, partners, friends, carers, and professionals who support neurodivergent people.
 

Neurodiversity is the understanding that we all experience, think about and interact with the world in different ways. There is no single 'right' way to learn, communicate, process information or build relationships. These differences are a natural part of human diversity and can bring both strengths and challenges.

Neurodiversity includes forms of thinking and learning such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette syndrome. You may describe yourself as neurodivergent if your brain works differently from what is considered typical.

Autism is a lifelong difference in the way you experience and understand the world. You may notice things that other people do not, think differently, or experience the world more intensely. You may communicate, socialise and process information in ways that differ from non-autistic people. You might enjoy routine and predictability, or you may be particularly affected by sensory experiences such as noise, light, textures or smells.

Being autistic is not an illness and does not need to be 'fixed'. Like everyone else, you have your own strengths, challenges, interests and support needs.

You may start to wonder whether you are autistic for many different reasons. You might recognise autistic traits in yourself, or friends, family members or professionals may have suggested autism as a possibility. Looking back on your life experiences may lead you to explore whether autism could explain some things, such as feeling different from others, finding social situations difficult, being sensitive to sensory experiences, or becoming exhausted from trying to fit in.

While you are waiting for an autism assessment, you may choose to think of yourself as autistic, or you may prefer to wait until you receive the outcome of your assessment. There is no right or wrong approach. Many people find that learning more about autism and neurodiversity helps them better understand themselves and feel more compassionate towards themselves.

Autism is not a mental health condition. However, if you are autistic, or waiting for an assessment, you may be more likely to experience difficulties such as anxiety, stress, depression or burnout. This can be linked to experiences such as sensory overwhelm, feeling misunderstood, difficulty accessing support, or spending years masking or hiding autistic traits.

You may also experience alexithymia (pronounced al-ex-ith-ee-mee-ah). Alexithymia means finding it difficult to recognise, understand or describe your emotions. For example, you may know that you feel uncomfortable or upset but struggle to work out exactly what you are feeling or how to explain it to someone else. Alexithymia is common in autistic people, but anyone can experience it.

Learning about autism, neurodiversity and alexithymia may help you make sense of your experiences and find ways to support your wellbeing while you are waiting for an assessment.

Websites

These websites offer self-help resources which can have a positive effect on your wellbeing.

  • CNTW relaxation and self-help guides - Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust have some useful resources on their website: Relaxation techniques. Self-help guides.
  • Minding Your Head - five simple steps that can help you maintain and improve your mental wellbeing. ​​​​​
  • Get Self Help - a website with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) self-help and therapy resources, worksheets, information sheets, videos and mp3s. CBT has been proven to help mental health problems.
  • NHS Inform - information to help identify, treat and manage mental health problems. The website also includes self-help guides to promote positive emotional wellbeing including social anxiety.
  • Mental Health Foundation - a UK charity focused on preventing poor metal health and building and protecting good mental health. Their website has articles which cover a range of topics on prevention, self-care and coping mechanisms.
Mobile apps

These apps can support you to better manage your wellbeing and functioning:

  • Calm - a mental health app designed to help you manage stress, sleep better and live a happier and healthier life.
  • Molehill Mountain - daily worry management app designed by autistic people for autistic people. Log your mood every day to see the patterns and learn more about yourself.
  • Headspace - meditation and mindfulness techniques to help manage stress and anxiety, improve well-being, and become happier overall. The series of guided meditations is designed to train your brain in just 10 minutes a day, with the ability to track and reward yourself for progress, along with a buddy system so that you can stay motivated and help others do the same.
  • Stay Alive - a suicide prevention app, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
  • Goblin Tools – a collection of small, simple, single-task tools, mostly designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.
  • Brain in Hand - please note this requires a licence subscription and is not free to use. It can help you manage difficult situations, remember things, and cope with anxiety. You will receive support with personalised set up, accessible self-management tools and a linked brain in hand coach.
Spoon Theory

There is a concept called "Spoon Theory", which is widely used by people living with chronic health conditions, disabilities, and neurodivergent people. Spoon Theory uses "spoons" as a simple way of representing the amount of physical, emotional, social, and mental energy a person has available each day.

Everyone has a limited number of spoons, but the number can vary from day to day depending on factors such as stress, sleep, sensory demands, physical health, work, family responsibilities, and social interactions. Everyday activities that may seem straightforward to others can require significant energy for some people.

Many people find Spoon Theory helpful for understanding their own energy levels, planning daily activities, setting realistic expectations, and communicating their needs to others. It can also help explain why tasks that feel manageable on one day may feel much more difficult on another.

Although Spoon Theory is often discussed in relation to neurodiversity, it can be equally helpful for people living with long-term physical or mental health conditions. It provides a practical and non-judgemental way of understanding and explaining fluctuations in energy, wellbeing, and capacity.

Read a conserving spoons blog post for more information about Spoon Theory.

If you are struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, you can seek support from:

Your own GP

NHS 111 Mental Health - call 111 and select mental health option 2

NHS 111 mental health text message support - text 07480 635134 you will be connected to a mental health practitioner, who will aim to respond within four hours.

Emergency: Call 999 or attend your local hospital A&E

Emergency social services: 0161 342 2222, 6.30pm - 9am 7 days a week. Call in the event of an unexpected major problem within the home and family.  

SAFE Tameside – a safe place for urgent face-to-face mental health support, based in Ashton-under Lyne. You can get advice and meet others with lived experience in a safe, relaxed and friendly environment. Visit the SAFE Tameside website for details, locations and opening times, or call 0161 470 6104.

Other helplines

Visit our helplines page for more support including Samaritans, Refuge, Mind, Sane Line and Calm.

Understanding and accepting neurodiversity can have a positive impact on your wellbeing. You may find it helpful to connect with others who share similar experiences.

Here are some groups that you can join. Please check with the contacts or organisers for exact details of costs, times and dates.

Tameside Autism in Mind

A peer-led support group for neurodivergent adults in Tameside and Glossop, offering a welcoming space to connect with others, access activities and drop in without booking.

  • Where: Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind, 216-218 Katherine Street, Ashton Under-Lyne, OL6 7AS
  • When: Tuesday every fortnight, 4pm - 6pm
  • Cost: Free
  • Contact: wellbeinghub@togmind.org or call 0161 330 9223

Tameside Autism Network

A community-led support group for autistic adults, family members and supporters, offering a welcoming space to connect, share experiences and meet others with similar lived experience.

  • Where: Academy HQ, Grosvenor Street, Stalybridge, SK15 1SD
  • When: Every third Thursday of the month, 5.30pm - 7.30pm 
  • Cost: Free
  • Contact: tan@tameside.gov.uk 

The A-Team Mossley

A social group for neurodiverse adults and young people aged 13+, offering a safe and supportive space to connect with others, build confidence, share interests and develop new skills at their own pace.

  • Where: Mossley Football Club, 1a-3a Market Street, Mossley, OL5 0ES
  • When: Tuesday every other week, 6pm - 8pm
  • Contact: A-Team Facebook page

Glossop Arts Project 

An arts-for-wellbeing group for neurodivergent adults aged 18+, offering a supportive space to improve wellbeing, build confidence and reduce social isolation through creative activities, with no diagnosis or art experience required.

  • Where: Elim Church, Ellison St, Glossop, SK13 8BZ.
  • When: Wednesdays, 1pm - 3pm and 7pm - 9pm
  • Cost: Sessions are a minimum of £1 per session towards equipment and refreshments
  • Contact: info@glossopartsproject.org

Tameside Neuroinclusive Project

A weekly drop-in social group for neurodiverse adults, offering crafts, board games and a safe, welcoming space to connect and chat with others.

  • Where: 4C Community Centre, Taunton Road, Ashton Under Lyne, OL7 9DR
  • When: Every Wednesday, 11am - 1pm
  • Cost: £3

Neurodiverse self-advocacy (NDSA)

A drop-in group for autistic people to learn more about autism, connect with others, share helpful strategies and feel supported by a welcoming autistic community.

If you live in Tameside, the Carers Centre is there to help you and your loved one’s cope with the impact caring can have on your lives. This could be having somebody to talk to, referrals, signposting to support or meeting other carers. 

They can help you get the right support at the right time, to make life feel a little easier. Their wellbeing advisors offer advice, guidance and signposting to meet the needs of you and the person you care for.

They also offer help with carers assessments to see how to assist you and the person you care for. Alongside this they provide emotional support and advice on benefit entitlements such as carers allowance. They can signpost you to local support and advice services, social groups, and advocacy.

You can access support by completing a carers self-referral registration form. They also offer drop-in support sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 2pm.

Tameside: Be well Tameside 

A free service for people who live or work in Tameside, or are registered with a Tameside GP, offering personalised health and wellbeing support on topics including stopping smoking, weight management, healthy eating, physical activity and alcohol awareness, with one-to-one support to help achieve your goals.

Contact: 0161 342 5050 or bewelltameside@tameside.gov.uk

Be Well Tameside website

Glossop: The Bureau

A charity that provides a range of services for local people, including practical and social support, volunteering opportunities, skills development and pre-employment support to improve health, wellbeing and economic independence.

Services and activities include:

  • Social prescribing – supporting people to self-manage social, personal and physical wellbeing issues and provide connections to appropriate services to improve health and wellbeing.
  • Move more - to help people in Glossop to move more and make physical activity part of their everyday lives.
  • Youth activities – a range of youth clubs for different ages.
  • Volunteer car scheme – to provide transportation to medical and social appointments to those that need it.
  • Bright perspectives – to support people to develop their confidence.
  • Digital healthcare support service – to help people access GP online services and health apps. 
  • Befriending services – volunteers provide personalised one-to-one social companionship via their call companions service over the phone or out and about with their befriending project. 

The Bureau Glossop website

Anyone can experience difficulties with their mental health, and it's important to seek support when needed. If you're concerned about your mental health, speak to your GP. You may also find the following websites and resources helpful for information, advice and support.

Pennine Care wellbeing support and advice - Helpful advice, apps and online programmes to support your mental health and wellbeing, with resources tailored to a range of needs and circumstances.

NHS Every Mind Matters - Simple, practical tips and tools to help manage stress, ease anxiety, improve sleep and boost overall wellbeing.

Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind - Supports the mental health and wellbeing of people across Tameside, Oldham, Glossop and Stockport. Contact: 0161 330 9223 or office@togsmind.org.

Andy's Man Club - A men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online. They meet every Monday at 7pm (not bank holidays). Local groups can be found in Denton, Stalybridge, Ashton-under-Lyne and Droylsden.

Side by Side Counselling Services - Free counselling to adults over 17 by dedicated volunteer counsellors. Appointments are on Monday and Wednesday evenings at Ashton Church of Nazarene, Stamford Street, Ashton under Lyne, OL6 7LJ. Contact: www.sidebysidecounselling.co.uk or 07376 799 797. 

The Anthony Seddon Fund - A peer support mental health charity, providing a safe environment for you to come and chat. They do not offer counselling or therapy, but a friendly, welcoming environment where they can listen. The centre is open from 9:30am - 12pm and 12:30pm - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday at 12 George Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6AQ. Contact: www.tasfund.org.uk/contact-us or 0161 376 4439.

SAFE Tameside - An alternative to A&E if you’re looking for urgent mental health support. You can get advice and meet others with lived experience in a safe, relaxed and friendly environment. Contact: 0161 470 6104.

NHS Tameside and Glossop Talking Therapies - For people over 16 who are registered with a GP in Tameside or Glossop. Help if you’re experiencing problems such as depression or low mood, anxiety or worry, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, long-term health conditions and more. They offer a safe place and time to talk to someone. There are also some online services.

Work Well Tameside - help to access employment, training and volunteering opportunities, personalised advice, guidance and practical support to help you build confidence, develop skills and achieve your goals.

Zink Glossop - Help with employment including support with applications, work experience, CV writing and interview preparation. Contact: 07507 937554 or jane@zink.org.uk.