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A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by Blanchard et al. (2021) found that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD Baron-Cohen, 2017) was associated with a substantial increase in probability of suicidality in both children and adults. However, research has yet to adequately explain how challenges unique to autistic people lead to increased suicide risk (Cassidy & Rodgers, 2017; Segers & Rawana, 2014). Turning to theories of suicide risk which were developed in psychopathology research fields other than the ASD field (e.g. Joiner, 2005) may prove useful in this regard. Indeed, readily available, and robust theoretical frameworks may further our understanding of those general mechanisms underlying risk for suicidal ideation and/or escalation to suicide attempt regardless of a particular type of psychopathology. Joiner's (2005) Interpersonal Theory of Suicide is a widely cited theory of suicide risk which has contributed to substantial advances in the scientific and clinical understanding of suicide and related behaviours (Chu et al., 2017). The theory posits that an individual will not die by suicide unless they have both the desire to die by suicide and the acquired ability to enact lethal self-injury (Joiner et al., 2005). More specifically, the psychological states of ‘Thwarted Belonging’ and ‘Perceived Burdensomeness’ together lead to the desire for suicide. While the acquired ability to enact lethal self-injury (‘suicidal capability’) occurs as a result of a biological change in the body’s fear and pain systems which allows - as opposed to inhibits - a suicide attempt” (Joiner et al., 2005). Previous reviews on the topic of suicidality and self-harm within the autistic population have been largely restricted to prevalence and risk factors (Hannon & Taylor, 2013; Hedley & Uljarević, 2018; Richa et al., 2014; Segers & Rawana, 2014). As such, there remains an incomplete understanding of the breadth and efficacy of the Interpersonal Theory to address those mechanisms underlying the increased risk for suicide in autistic people and whether this is different from non-autistic people. See attached file for scoping review details.