Ben boosts industry support to mark neurodiversity week

Automotive industry charity Ben has expanded its support services to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which runs until March 23.

Ben said yesterday those in the automotive industry who have reported having neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia are more likely to experience mental, physical, financial, and social issues.

Neurodivergence is when a person’s brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is ‘typical’ and neurotypical describes how the average person’s brain works.

In 2024, 73% of neurodivergent individuals in the industry said they experienced feelings of anxiety, compared to 44% of neurotypical individuals, according to Ben. Neurodivergent individuals were also more likely to be stressed at home (57%), compared to 32% of neurotypical individuals.

Now the charity has added two new support programmes to its digital therapeutic platform, Silvercloud, which is free for automotive workers and their family dependents who can sign up using the code: ben.

The new programmes are Living well with ADHD and Living well as an autistic person.

The charity has also launched new neurodiversity-related online tips and advice to help those seeking support and diagnosis. 

Rachel Clift, Ben’s CEO, said: “Our insights reveal that neurodivergent individuals in the automotive industry are facing greater challenges with their health and wellbeing, making it all the more important for us to provide easy access to relevant support for them and show them that we’re always here if and when they need us.”