Mental Health
Description of setting
Occupational therapy practice within the mental health setting can vary due to the broad range of settings, populations, diagnoses, and patient needs. Although intervention may differ depending on setting-specific factors, occupational therapy practice within the mental health setting often focuses upon increasing client’s insight into their mental health struggles by expanding their skills utilized to manage their emotions, thoughts, and feelings. As a result, clients can establish and restore their engagement in meaningful occupations, roles, and routines to promote a life worth living.
Evaluation and assessment
Occupational therapy evaluation in mental health can occur formally (i.e., standardized assessments) or informally (i.e., client self-report, clinical observation, etc.). Despite the approach, the goal of evaluation remains the same - to determine what factors are challenging occupational engagement and performance. Occupational therapy evaluation seeks to build an occupational profile and create client-centered goals to promote and restore engagement in valued occupations, roles, and routines.
client population
Occupational therapy students will encounter a broad range of populations within the mental health setting. All individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, culture, or geographic location, may experience struggles with their mental health.
DSM-V
Occupational therapy students can benefit from reviewing The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) to understand the criteria for psychiatric diagnoses (i.e., Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Personality Disorders, etc.) encountered within the mental health setting.
Common Diagnoses
Click here for a condensed chart containing brief descriptions of the most common psychiatric diagnoses seen within the mental health setting.
LGBTQIA+ Population
Occupational therapy students are likely to encounter LGBTQIA+ youth and adults within the mental health setting a result of the common marginalization and discrimination towards the LGBTQIA+ community. However, there is a significant gap in the literature pertaining to the benefit of occupational therapy among the LGBTQIA+ population. Click here for a list of evidence-based research articles that detail how occupational therapy can best serve this community.
Intervention
Occupational therapy intervention within the mental health setting can occur either in a group or individual setting. A client may receive more intensive, one-to-one therapeutic intervention if they present with more severe symptoms, are younger in age, or present harm and/or disruption to a group setting. There are various approaches to occupational therapy intervention, some of which are detailed below.
Acute Mental Health
Acute mental health settings typically admit and treat clients for 5-7 days. Individuals can also seek mental health services within residential facilities or long-term treatment settings. Although occupational therapy would be beneficial in these settings, it is less prevalent due to various systemic factors. Click here to read more information related to occupational therapy intervention within the acute mental health setting.
Trauma-Informed Care
It is common for clients within the mental health setting to experience trauma during their lifetime. Trauma is a subjective experience that is unique to each individual. Practicing trauma-informed care within the mental health setting is crucial, as it promotes safety, autonomy, and healing, all of which is crucial for clients to engage positively in occupational therapy intervention.
Click here to read more about trauma-informed care.
Facilitating Groups
Group occupational therapy intervention is unique to the mental health setting and can be intimidating if a practitioner has limited experience or expertise. However, group therapy has found to be beneficial within the mental health setting because it allows for group participants to collaborate and share their lived experiences. Click here to read more about facilitating occupational therapy groups.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing can be used within the mental health setting to improve an client's internal motivation in order to evoke change and create healthy habits (or cessation of unhealthy habits). Motivational interviewing is a complex, dynamic skill that requires practitioners to exercise empathy and non-judgemental listening. Click here to read more about motivational interviewing.