ICMR Grants ₹35 Lakh to Kerala Centre for Three‑Year Study of Autism‑Related Parental Grief

The Child Development Centre in Thiruvananthapuram has been awarded a ₹35‑lakh grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research for a three‑year study on parental grief linked to autism. The research, overseen by centre director Deepa Bhaskaran, will design and test a culturally appropriate questionnaire to measure grief among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Data will be gathered through focus‑group talks and one‑on‑one interviews with parents of autistic children, bereaved parents, autism professionals and members of the wider public. Bhaskaran noted that parents often feel shock, denial, fear, guilt, anger, sadness and helplessness after their child’s diagnosis, and that this grief can reappear at different developmental stages, especially when expected milestones are missed. The project aims to map these emotional patterns, identify grief‑related concerns and shape counselling guidelines and support‑group models to boost the psychosocial health of affected families. She added that limited social support intensifies distress and urged health workers to assess parental emotions alongside child‑rehabilitation needs. Early diagnosis, mental‑health assistance and training for clinicians to spot grief and teach coping strategies were highlighted as essential steps. ## Context In India, families with autistic children frequently confront ongoing emotional strain, a situation researchers call chronic sorrow. Tools that reliably capture this grief help tailor interventions, making it easier for professionals to offer timely and relevant support.