OCD Awareness Week

A week to raise awareness of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which co-occurs with autism at high rates. Distinguishing OCD from autism is clinically important — they share some features but require different approaches.

History

OCD Awareness Week is organized by the International OCD Foundation. It aims to reduce stigma, improve access to evidence-based treatment, and educate the public about what OCD actually is versus common misconceptions.

How to Participate

• →Learn about the clinical differences between autism and OCD — they can look similar
• →Understand that exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold standard for OCD
• →Advocate for mental health providers who understand both autism and OCD
• →Support access to specialized OCD treatment for autistic individuals
• →Share accurate OCD information — the disorder is often misrepresented in media

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