Who Are Emotional Dysregulated in Autism (EDA)?

Emotion Dysregulation in Autism (commonly referred to as EDA) is an award-winning mental health charity dedicated to supporting autistic young people aged 12–25 who experience emotional difficulties, mental health challenges, and distress linked to autism. The organisation is led by lived experience, both from its founder and from young people themselves. 

EDA was established after its founder, ZeZe Sohawon, drew on her own experiences of navigating mental health services as a young autistic person. This inspired her to build an organisation that provides the support she wished had existed. Since its early beginnings, EDA has grown into a formal charity registered with the UK Charity Commission, operating across England and Wales.  

What They Do

EDA’s work centres on helping young autistic people manage emotion dysregulation, a challenge that many face, where intense emotions can be difficult to understand, communicate, or regulate safely. This can lead to mental distress, self-harm, and a sense of being misunderstood.  

Core activities include: 

• Psychologically informed peer support: EDA offers specialist support programs where young people can connect with trained peers who understand their experiences and provide emotional guidance in a safe, supportive setting. 
• Youth social action programmes: These initiatives involve young people in raising awareness and educating communities, including schools, youth groups, and other organisations about autism, emotion regulation, and mental health. 
• Workshops and community engagement: Through workshops and social action, EDA helps reduce stigma and builds understanding about autistic emotional experiences across broader communities.  
• Advocacy and lived-experience leadership: The charity amplifies the voices of autistic young people in policy, practice, and public conversation, pushing for more compassionate services and better mental health outcomes.  

Vision and Impact

EDA envisions a world where autistic young people no longer self-harm due to unmet emotional needs and where their emotional experiences are acknowledged, understood, and supported.

Leadership and Interaction

EDA is led by a small team of dedicated professionals and trustees, including clinical experts and advocates. At its helm is ZeZe Sohawon, CEO and Founder, whose personal journey has shaped the charity’s approach and strategic direction.

A Case Study by ZeZe Sohawon

Despite being relatively new, EDA has already gained traction and accolades in the social impact space for its innovative and compassionate approach to autism and mental health support. 

Watch the video produced by EDA explaining what they do