We read with immense sadness of the incarceration of the 43-year-old mother who had been driven to push her autistic son out of the window, due in part to the relapse of her depressive condition in 2014 ("Jailed for pushing autistic son out of window"; last Saturday).
Often, primary caregivers of children with moderate to severe autism face high levels of emotional, psychological and physical stress on a recurring basis.
Breaking points can be reached when there is spousal tension or family conflict, which further plays on the emotions of a vulnerable and distressed primary caregiver.