Staff profile

Affiliations:

• Core Member: The Alliance of Suicide Prevention and Intervention Researchers and Educators (ASPIRE) Working Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada
• Member: Autistica Early Career Researcher Training Programme 

Dr. Jachyra joined Durham University in September 2021. Patrick’s research examines the psycho-social dimensions of disability, health, and well-being of neurodivergent individuals. The goal of this research is to support the mental health, well-being, physical activity and participation and inclusion of neurodivergent people in society. His work often is co-produced and co-designed with neurodivergent people, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and policy makers. Dr. Jachyra takes a multi and inter disciplinary approach drawing on scholarship from bioethics, public health, rehabilitation sciences, disability studies, psychology, and sociology.

Dr. Jachyra’s work has been funded by a range of funders including: Research England; Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; Child-Bright Network, Knowledge Translation Innovation Incubator Grant; the New Frontiers in Research Fund Government of Canada. Dr. Jachyra is regularly invited to deliver invited talks internationally and keynotes. He is a globally recognized scholar advancing knowledge and awareness of neurodivergence and was spoke about the importance of this work for Autism Acceptance Month in April 2026: Durham research calls for lasting change this Autism Acceptance Month - Durham University

Research Interests:

Dr. Jachyra research interests are focused upon the area of psycho-social dimensions of disability, health, and well-being of neurodivergent individuals. This includes:

Autism and Neurodivergence

Bioethics 

Mental health and well-being

Physical activity participation 

Esteem Indicators:

2026: Editorial Board Member: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 

2026: Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Post-Doctoral Fellowship Competitions

2024: World Health Organization: Department of Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, Physical Activity Unit

2024: Great Britain Paralympics: Equal Play Policy Paper to improve physical education participation for disabled children

2023: Disability in Sport and Physical Activity Champion, Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network Conference. Dr Patrick Jachyra awarded the Disability in sport and physical activity (DisSPA) champion - Durham University

2020: Pursuit Award, 2^nd Place, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. 

Publication Information

‪Patrick Jachyra - ‪Google Scholar

Patrick Jachyra

Jachyra, Patrick - Author details - Scopus

PhD Supervision: Patrick welcomes applications from potential PhD students interested in the psycho-social aspects of disability, bioethics, mental health, and physical activity. If you are interested in potential opportunities to study at Durham, please email Patrick directly.

Media Interviews 

Dr.  Jachyra welcomes media interviews connected to his areas of research expertise.  Some examples of previous media work can be accessed here:

Durham research calls for lasting change this Autism Acceptance Month - Durham University

Prognosis Newsletter: New Studies Support Exercise as Antidepressant - Bloomberg 

Five things to know about autistic mental health and exercise - North East Autism Society

Researchers outline a unified approach to lifestyle psychiatry and mental health - Durham University

Physical Activity, Mental Health and Neurodivergence - North East Autism Society

Chapter in book

• Interview and arts-based approaches for research with autistic adults
  
  Jachyra, P., McLeod, J., & Rosenbaum, S. (2024). Interview and arts-based approaches for research with autistic adults. In J. McMahon & K. R. McGannon (Eds.), Trauma-Informed Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health: Qualitative Methods (pp. 176-193). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003332909-14

Journal Article

• Socio-Demographic Associations and Frequencies of Physical Activity Participation of Autistic Adolescents Reported by Parents in Ontario, Canada
  
  Charalampopoulou, M., Beauchamp, A., Anagnostou, E., & Jachyra, P. (2026). Socio-Demographic Associations and Frequencies of Physical Activity Participation of Autistic Adolescents Reported by Parents in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07334-z
• Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience
  
  Wijekoon, S., Robison, J., Welch, C., Westphal, A., Loftin, R., Perry, B., Rombos, V., Picciolini, C., Bosy, C., Senman, L., Jachyra, P., Baron-Cohen, S., & Penner, M. (2026). Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience. Autism in Adulthood, 8(1), 102-111. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2023.0192
• In Times of Need: Psychiatric Emergency Department Presentations in Autistic Adults
  
  Courchesne, V., Frayne, M., Castelino, C., Luk, V., Man, L. L. Y., Lee, C. J., Baharikhoob, P., Pace-Tonna, C., Jachyra, P., Ameis, S. H., Lin, H., Sawyer, A., Zaheer, J., Lunsky, Y., & Lai, M. (2026). In Times of Need: Psychiatric Emergency Department Presentations in Autistic Adults. Autism in Adulthood. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251415125
• Family and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect
  
  Wijekoon, S., Robison, J., Welch, C., Westphal, A., Loftin, R., Jachyra, P., Perry, B., Rombos, V., Picciolini, C., Bosyj, C., Senman, L., Baron-Cohen, S., & Penner, M. (2026). Family and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect. Autism in Adulthood. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251412666
• Psychiatric Emergency Visits of Autistic Adults With or Without Documented Borderline Personality Disorder
  
  Lee, C. J., Man, L. L. Y., Morra, A., Pace‐Tonna, C., Castelino, C., Courchesne, V., Frayne, M., Luk, V., Baharikhoob, P., Jachyra, P., Zaheer, J., Ameis, S. H., Lin, H., Sawyer, A., Lunsky, Y., & Lai, M. (2026). Psychiatric Emergency Visits of Autistic Adults With or Without Documented Borderline Personality Disorder. Autism Research, 19(1), Article e70148. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70148
• Physical Activity for Autistic Children and Adolescents: Key Considerations to Support Participation and Future Directions
  
  Jachyra, P., Van Damme, T., Healy, S., Stubbs, B., Zhou, C., & Fabiano, N. (2025). Physical Activity for Autistic Children and Adolescents: Key Considerations to Support Participation and Future Directions. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2025-0811
• Perspectives and experiences of physical activity among autistic adults in middle adulthood
  
  McLeod, J., Roderick, M., Hanley, M., Riby, D. M., & Jachyra, P. (2025). Perspectives and experiences of physical activity among autistic adults in middle adulthood. Autism, 29(12), 3058-3071. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251360862
• 25 years of qualitative research in sport and exercise Psychology: How did it Go? and what now?
  
  Smith, B., Roderick, M., Hockin-Boyers, H., Monforte, J., Williams, T. L., Jachyra, P., Dodd-Reynolds, C., & Phoenix, C. (2025). 25 years of qualitative research in sport and exercise Psychology: How did it Go? and what now? Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 81, Article 102958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102958
• Lifestyle psychiatry: a conceptual framework for application in mental healthcare and support
  
  Deenik, J., Vermeulen, J. M., Teasdale, S. B., Schuch, F. B., Marx, W., Perry, B., Diez, G. G., Castellanos, N., Elshazly, M., Gatera, G., Waugh, M., Hepsomali, P., Bueno-Antequera, J., Borrueco Sánchez, J., Lopez Moral, A., López-Sánchez, C., Oviedo Caro, M. A., Dejonge, M., Noortman, C., … Firth, J. (2025). Lifestyle psychiatry: a conceptual framework for application in mental healthcare and support. BMJ Mental Health, 28, Article e301980. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2025-301980
• Autistic adolescents and their experiences of physical education at school
  
  Waddington, E., Sadler, D., Jachyra, P., Armstrong, J., Riby, D. M., & Hanley, M. (2025). Autistic adolescents and their experiences of physical education at school. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2025.2553285
• Negative and Positive Experiences During the COVID ‐19 Pandemic in Canadians With Developmental Disabilities: A One‐Year Ontario‐Based Survey
  
  Kassee, C., Jachyra, P., Mahalingam, V., Tint, A., Lin, H., Ameis, S., Di Martino, A., Lunsky, Y., & Lai, M. (2024). Negative and Positive Experiences During the COVID ‐19 Pandemic in Canadians With Developmental Disabilities: A One‐Year Ontario‐Based Survey. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(6), Article e13300. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13300
• Understanding the Use of the Term “Weaponized Autism” in An Alt-Right Social Media Platform
  
  Welch, C., Senman, L., Loftin, R., Picciolini, C., Robison, J., Westphal, A., Perry, B., Nguyen, J., Jachyra, P., Stevenson, S., Aggarwal, J., Wijekoon, S., Baron-Cohen, S., & Penner, M. (2023). Understanding the Use of the Term “Weaponized Autism” in An Alt-Right Social Media Platform. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 4035–4046. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05701-0
• Premature mortality in a population‐based cohort of autistic adults in Canada
  
  Lunsky, Y., Lai, M., Balogh, R., Chung, H., Durbin, A., Jachyra, P., Tint, A., Weiss, J., & Lin, E. (2022). Premature mortality in a population‐based cohort of autistic adults in Canada. Autism Research, 15(8), 1550-1559. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2741
• Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours Among Autistic Adults Presenting to the Psychiatric Emergency Department: An Exploratory Chart Review
  
  Jachyra, P., Lai, M., Zaheer, J., Fernandes, N., Dale, M., Sawyer, A., & Lunsky, Y. (2022). Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours Among Autistic Adults Presenting to the Psychiatric Emergency Department: An Exploratory Chart Review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52, 2367–2375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05102-9
• Understanding disability in healthcare: exploring the perceptions of parents of young people with autism spectrum disorder
  
  Wright Stein, S., Alexander, R., Mann, J., Schneider, C., Zhang, S., Gibson, B. E., Gabison, S., Jachyra, P., & Mosleh, D. (2022). Understanding disability in healthcare: exploring the perceptions of parents of young people with autism spectrum disorder. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(19), 5623-5630. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1948114
• Infographic. Communicate physical activity guidelines for disabled children and disabled young people
  
  Smith, B., Netherway, J., Jachyra, P., Bone, L., Baxter, B., Blackshaw, J., & Foster, C. (2022). Infographic. Communicate physical activity guidelines for disabled children and disabled young people. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 56(10). https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105411
• The Wellbeing and Mental Health Care Experiences of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities during COVID-19
  
  Lake, J. K., Jachyra, P., Volpe, T., Lunsky, Y., Magnacca, C., Marcinkiewicz, A., & Hamdani, Y. (2021). The Wellbeing and Mental Health Care Experiences of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities during COVID-19. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2021.1892890
• Physical activity participation among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
  
  Jachyra, P., Renwick, R., Gladstone, B., Anagnostou, E., & Gibson, B. E. (2020). Physical activity participation among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320949344
• “Girls don’t have big tummies”: The experiences of weight-related discussions for children with autism spectrum disorders
  
  Jachyra, P., Anagnostou, E., Knibbe, T. J., Petta, C., Cosgrove, S., Chen, L., Capano, L., Moltisanti, L., & McPherson, A. C. (2019). “Girls don’t have big tummies”: The experiences of weight-related discussions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 23(5), 1096-1105. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318793020
• Exploring the Role of Physiotherapists in the Care of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  
  Cynthia, C., Duck, M., McQuillan, R., Brazill, L., Malik, S., Hartman, L., McPherson, A. C., Gibson, B. E., & Jachyra*, P. (2019). Exploring the Role of Physiotherapists in the Care of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 39(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2019.1585405
• Parents’ perspectives of physical activity participation among Canadian adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  
  Gregor, S., Bruni, N., Grkinic, P., Schwartz, L., McDonald, A., Thille, P., Gabison, S., Gibson, B. E., & Jachyra, P. (2018). Parents’ perspectives of physical activity participation among Canadian adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2018.01.007
• Weighty Conversations: Caregivers', Children's, and Clinicians' Perspectives and Experiences of Discussing Weight-Related Topics in Healthcare Consultations
  
  Jachyra, P., Anagnostou, E., Knibbe, T. J., Petta, C., Cosgrove, S., Chen, L., Capano, L., Moltisanti, L., & McPherson, A. C. (2018). Weighty Conversations: Caregivers’, Children’s, and Clinicians’ Perspectives and Experiences of Discussing Weight-Related Topics in Healthcare Consultations. Autism Research, 11(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2017