Mental Health

P34-Supporting Routines for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness to Promote Occupational Participation

Presenter: Mallory Schrier

Description: This session presents research findings regarding feasibility and effectiveness of a six-week intervention that was designed to promote habits and routines for individuals with serious mental illness. The intervention encompassed one-on-one and group sessions and was delivered in a community-based mental health setting. Results of the study offer insights into supports and barriers that individuals with mental illness face in sustaining occupational participation in valued occupations, roles and health-related habits and routines.

P35-The Road to Employment: Understanding the Employment Experiences of Individuals Living in Supportive Housing

Presenter: Kimberly Lieberman

Description: This study addresses the gap in literature and demonstrates the role of occupational therapy services in supportive housing organizations. Through semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study examines the meaning of employment and barriers to employment in the at risk for homelessness population. This study aims to address limitations in the existing literature and identify opportunities to implement occupational therapy services within this setting and population.

P36-Mental Health in a Gym Setting: Decreasing Barriers to Participation through Principles of Trauma Informed Care

Presenter: Theresa Guzaldo

Description: This presentation explores the role of occupational therapy in reducing barriers to participation in a gym setting for individuals with mental health concerns such and histories of trauma. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness and acceptance of increasing mental health awareness through the integration of trauma informed care into training for staff at a gym.

P37-Well-Being in the Workplace: OTs for Change

Presenter: Jessica Zuba

Description: Workplace stressors have multiple sources: the physical and social environment, task demands, and client factors. Using the Transactional Model of Occupation, occupational therapists can implement evidence-based practice to optimize occupational participation, experience, and performance thus enhancing well-being. This poster presentation will review current trends of occupation-focused health promotion in the workplace and how this was applied to develop interventions to promote well-being. Preliminary feasibility and acceptability will be described.

P38-Sports Wellness: Exploring the Health and Wellness Needs of Athletes with Disabilities

Presenter: Jordan Ginsburg

Description: The purpose of this study is to examine the mental health needs of adaptive athletes. Many athletes do not get adequate support in the area of mental health and wellness. Athletes with disabilities commit themselves physically and mentally to the sports they participate in and mental health can be impacted by this commitment. However, little research examines the specific mental health needs of this population.

P39-Maximizing Wellness: Revitalizing the Occupational Experience of Athletes with Disabilities

Presenters: Jamie Heiney & Jordan Ginsburg

Description: The well-being of the population in the United States of America and countries worldwide is at risk, and trends suggest this number will continue to decrease each year, with athletes with disabilities being no exception. To maximize well-being with this population, two doctoral capstone students partnered with community organizations for athletes with disabilities to design and implement an evidence-informed occupational therapy program grounded in The Transactional Model of Occupation. The preliminary effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of this theoretically grounded program at one community organization supporting athletes with disabilities were examined and described to inform a future pilot study.

P40-Determining Occupational Therapy's Role in Transition to Motherhood

Presenters: Kelly Raye, OTS, Sophia Baffes, OTS, Bhumi Bhatt, OTR, Elsie Pollari, OTR, Tori Greenlee, OTS, Huda Hussain, OTS, Tess Somerville, OTS Kelsie Walraven, OTS

Description: The purpose of this research is to explore maternal role transition and competency and to understand what mothers need in their support system to feel competent in their transition to motherhood. There are gaps in the literature regarding the role of occupational therapy in addressing these topics and we would like to contribute to this knowledge to further the profession’s scope. Based on the data collected, we want to know how occupational therapists can support maternal needs during role transition.