In 2025, Healthwatch Kingston – the independent public voice service for health and social care, delivered by New Dialogue – spoke to adults with ADHD and autism to create a podcast series sharing their experiences of grief and bereavement. This work was made possible by the ICCM Metals Recycling of Metals scheme via Kingston Voluntary Action.

The Healthwatch Kingston team attended The Larch, a social club for adults with autism, and met with experts by experience, Involve, to talk about people’s thoughts, feelings and experiences of grief and bereavement. We had some very open conversations about navigating complex feelings, the kind of support that people need, and the unexpected aspects of processing loss.

Given the sensitive nature of the topics discussed, the Healthwatch Kingston project team felt it was important to build a relationship of trust and understanding with attendees of the club. The team participated in social activities and arranged a series of informal ‘Get to know you’ introductory sessions to share information about Healthwatch Kingston’s work. Informal conversations helped the direction of the recordings develop and ensured those who participated were prepared and supported in sharing their testimonies. Working with Kingston Bereavement Support, a support sheet was developed for participants involved in the project to guide them through the process.

Through the conversations featured in the recordings, we heard about the importance of ongoing support for people with autism and ADHD, how participants felt that making time for positive memories helped them, and that they found support when speaking to family and friends. We discussed the distress felt when healthcare professionals and services were not prepared to support someone through a bereavement, and how more information about processing difficult emotions, and the feelings involved in grief could be beneficial.

We also heard that it was important to know that support from a professional would be inclusive of neurodiversity and the different ways people experience grief and loss. We hope that professionals working with the neurodiverse community will take the time to listen and engage with these voices to help us create an environment that is supportive of everybody’s grief.

You can listen to the conversations below, please be aware that the recordings contain discussions of a sensitive nature. 

Listen on Spotify: Feeling Grief Differently

Listen on YouTube: Feeling Grief Differently