Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Sarah Springer, MOT/S Thomas Downen, MOT/S

What is Occupational Therapy? “Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation.” “Occupational therapists work with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want, need, or are expected to do by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement. “

How Greenhouse can benefit from Occupational Therapy? Community- Based Mental Health Program Development Class Development

Statistics Veterans and Homelessness: Mental Illness and Substance Abuse: Over 60% of homeless individuals have mental health conditions. Over 80% of homeless individuals have alcohol and/or drug addictions. Veterans and Homelessness: The unemployment rate for veterans is currently 11.7%. Approximately 23 million veterans are homeless.

Recovery Process In individuals living with mental illnesses, the recovery process primarily refers to the person learning how to minimize the disabilities associated with these conditions while pursuing a safe, dignified, meaningful, and constructive life within the community.

Occupational Therapy and Mental Health Recovery Coping Strategies Life Skills Implement and identify healthy habits, rituals, and routines. Identify personal values, needs, and goals. Increase awareness of community -based resources Education

OT Objectives Goal: for an individual to recover and lead meaningful, satisfying, and productive lives. OT has a major emphasis on holism, function, participation, and partnership, that is used to help and support people with mental illness to develop skills, engage in activities of interest, and meet individual recovery goals.

Hope for the future…. To continue to move away from the medical model Help reduce stigmas associated with mental illness Work with your client out in the community in order to help re-integrate them back into society

Recovery IS possible for every person with mental illness. BUT recovery is often rendered impossible in today’s system of care

Cornerstones of Recovery Supportive and respectful environments Caring and reciprocal relationships Faith Gainful employment Participation in meaningful activities

“Recovery is about forming relationships with people, not making a diagnosis. It’s about helping them rebuild their lives, not treating the symptoms. It’s about working alongside someone, not doing treatment to them. It’s about hope and empowerment, self- responsibility and respect, community integration and fighting stigma.”

QUESTIONS???

References 2010. Definition of occupational therapy. Retrieved from: http://www.wfot.org/aboutus/aboutoccupationaltherapy/definitionofoccupationaltherapy.aspx. Occupational therapy’s role in mental health recovery. Retrieved from: http://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/Professionals/WhatIsOT/MH/Facts/Mental%20Health%20Recovery.ashx. Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health. (2012) received from: www.yale.edu/PRCH/aboutrecovery.html