Dr Hannah Belcher

I joined KCL in 2020 as a Postdoctoral Researcher and was made a Lecturer in 2022. My field of interest is predominantly in Autism Spectrum Conditions in adults, particularly the co-occurrence of mental health difficulties, mental health services, and late/missed/mis-diagnosis.

I gained my PhD from Anglia Ruskin University looking at the late and missed diagnosis of autistic women and the affects of mental health and masking of autistic traits. I have taught as an associate lecturer for both Anglia Ruskin University and the Open University. My book, ‘Taking off the Mask’ was published in 2022 and offers guidance and practical strategies for autistic people who do mask their autistic traits to support their mental wellbeing and the consequences of this.

Research Interests

• Late diagnosis of autism in adults
• Misdiagnosis of autism with other mental health conditions
• Co-occuring mental health difficulties in autistic people
• Masking/camouflaging autistic traits
• Autism in women

Expertise and Public Engagement

I have been interviewed in various media outlets, including for the Guardian, New Scientist and BBC. I have been invited to give a number of talks both nationally and internationally on the topic of late autism diagnoses and mental health. I am currently working with several organisations and researchers within the UK, both on the topic of autistic masking and on improving mental health services for autistic people. 

Latest Publications

Belcher, H.L., Uglik-Marucha, N., Vitoratou, S., Ford, R., & Morein-Zamir, S. (2023). Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of difference model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient. BJPsych Open, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.562

Belcher, H.L. (2022). On being autistic and in mental health crisis care. Autism in Adulthood, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2022.0044

Belcher, H.L., Evans, J., Bond, N., Darcy, C., Hatch, M., Priece, G., & Wykes, T. (2021). Views of service users and staff on a combined money advice and psychological therapy service within IAPT. Journal of Mental Health, 16, 1 -9. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2022.2069718

Belcher, H.L., Morein-Zamir, S., Stagg, S.D., & Ford, R.M. (2021). Shining a light on a hidden population: Social functioning and mental health in women reporting autistic traits but lacking diagnosis. J Autism Dev Disord, 53(8), 3118-3132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05583-2

Belcher, H.L., Morein-Zamir, S., Mandy, W., Ford, R.M. (2021). Camouflaging Intent, First Impressions, and Age of ASC Diagnosis in Autistic Men and Women. J Autism Dev Disord, 52(8), 3413-3426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05221-3

Stagg, S.D., and Belcher, H. (2019). Living with autism without knowing: receiving a diagnosis in later life. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 7(1), 348-361. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2019.1684920