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  • Occupational Therapy and Mental Health: Position Statement

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    Neni Rojas Contreras
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    Occupational therapists work to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems by enabling participation in meaningful everyday activities. They use holistic, client-centered approaches to build skills, encourage community inclusion, and adapt environments. This supports recovery and quality of life for those with mental illness. Good mental health allows people to reach their potential and contribute to society, yet many needs go unmet. Occupational therapists are well-positioned to address this through their expertise in occupation.

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    WFOT-Position-Statement-Occupational-Therapy-and-Mental-Health-2019

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    Occupational therapists work to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems by enabling participation in meaningful everyday activities. They use holistic, client-centered approaches to build skills, encourage community inclusion, and adapt environments. This supports recovery and quality of life for those with mental illness. Good mental health allows people to reach their potential and contribute to society, yet many needs go unmet. Occupational therapists are well-positioned to address this through their expertise in occupation.

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    37 views2 pages

    Occupational Therapy and Mental Health: Position Statement

    Uploaded by

    Neni Rojas Contreras
    Occupational therapists work to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems by enabling participation in meaningful everyday activities. They use holistic, client-centered approaches to build skills, encourage community inclusion, and adapt environments. This supports recovery and quality of life for those with mental illness. Good mental health allows people to reach their potential and contribute to society, yet many needs go unmet. Occupational therapists are well-positioned to address this through their expertise in occupation.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    POSITION STATEMENT

    Occupational Therapy and Mental Health


    Statement of the position being taken
    Occupational therapists work in contexts that promote good mental health and well-being, with the
    intention of both preventing the onset of mental health problems, and facilitating recovery for those
    experiencing mental health difficulties.
    Occupational therapists enable the participation and engagement of people in everyday living by using
    a holistic, bio-psychosocial, person-centred approach that encourages individuals to use their existing
    capabilities and strengths. Occupational therapists’ expertise in relationship building and the
    therapeutic use of self are significant tools in determining meaningful activities that motivate and
    provide incentives for psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery.
    Occupational therapists enable people to be active and productive in their community by using
    evidence-based individual and population approach interventions including skills training, education,
    group work, self-management and strategies to encourage community and inclusion and participation.
    Assessment and adaptation of the environment also assists in promoting occupational engagement
    and includes determining social supports and networks.
    Occupational therapy enables everyday life participation while influencing health, well-being and
    quality of life. Occupational therapists have expertise in advocating for occupational justice, equal
    access for engagement and opportunities for all people experiencing mental health problems including
    their families and carers.

    Statement of the significance of position or issue to occupational therapy


    The philosophy of occupational therapy recognises that symptom remission is insufficient for recovery
    from mental health problems, and that psychosocial issues exert complex influences on people’s
    experiences of recovery, community involvement and the quality of their lives.
    In some regions, the lack of mental health service providers is an opportunity for occupational
    therapists to expand their practice models and identify themselves as primary providers. In countries
    where the number of occupational therapists is low1, occupational therapists may be more effectively
    employed in a consulting (population based) approach. WFOT Member Organisations may require a
    human resource needs assessment to provide an objective analysis for new or expanded service
    development and preparation.
    Occupational therapy aligns with recovery-oriented practice by valuing the uniqueness of each
    individual, offering choice and agency, promoting dignity and respect, engaging in a partnership
    approach while continually evaluating progress to provide a responsive service with the appropriate
    challenge.

    Occupational Therapy and Mental Health [2019] 1|2


    Statement of the significance of the position to the community or society
    Good mental health enables people to realise their potential, cope with life’s normal stresses, work
    productively, and contribute to their communities2. One in four people globally are affected by mental
    health problems and/or neurological disorders during their life3 and is estimated that nearly two-thirds
    of people with a known mental health problem never seek help from health services and many have
    comorbidity2. The early detection of unmet needs in mental and physical health4 can be identified and
    addressed by occupational therapists whilst working in related services.
    Globally, the high prevalence of mental health problems significantly affects participation in school,
    work, family and leisure pursuits that are all important for the inclusion and contribution to the socio-
    economic fabric of families and the community.
    WFOT supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 and WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-
    2020 5,2 and offers partnership to achieve action plan objectives within its cross-cutting principles and
    approaches and prioritisation of mental health globally.

    Summary and conclusion


    Occupational therapists recognise that a mental health problem can have a pervasive impact on an
    individual, their family and community network. As experts in occupation, they work pro-actively to
    prevent the onset of mental health problems, ensure that people’s occupational needs and potential
    are met through engagement in meaningful and purposeful activity.

    References
    1
    World Health Organization. Mental Health Atlas 2017, Geneva: World Health
    Organization 2018
    2
    World Health Organization. Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, Geneva: World
    Health Organization 2013.
    3
    World Health Organization. Mental disorders affect one in four people. Available from
    http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/ [accessed 24 April
    2019]
    4
    Pathare S, Brazinova A, Levav I. Care gap: a comprehensive measure to quantify unmet
    needs in mental health. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 2018;27:463–7.
    5
    UN General Assembly. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
    Development, 21 October 2015, A/RES/70/1. Available at:
    https://www.refworld.org/docid/57b6e3e44.html [accessed 24 April 2019]

    Contributors (listed in alphabetical order)


    E. Sharon Brintnell (Canada)
    Pradeep Gunarathne (Sri Lanka)
    Dani Hitch (Australia)
    Ritchard Ledgerd (United Kingdom)
    Lida Pérez Acevedo (Colombia)
    Anna Pettican (United Kingdom)
    Narges Shafaroodi (Iran)
    Virginia ‘Ginny’ Stoffel (United States of America)

    Occupational Therapy and Mental Health [2019] 2|2

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