Mental Health

Occupational therapists working in mental health draw on a broad range of frameworks and models to provide strengths-based, behaviourally oriented, interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing. Occupational therapists draw on, and are trained in, occupational therapy specific tools and approaches as well as psychological techniques used by other qualified mental health professionals. Occupational therapists apply a unique, goal-directed occupational focus, addressing the activities and occupations that are important and meaningful to a person’s daily life.

The practical, recovery-focused approach used by occupational therapists addresses not only an individual’s diagnosis, but how the person may experience mental illness and the impact it has on their ability to function in daily life. For example, their ability to work, manage household responsibilities, participate in schooling, sleep, personal care or engage with others. This makes occupational therapy ideally suited for those experiencing complex mental illness or a significant impact on their day-to-day life as a result of their mental health condition.

Mental health Occupational Therapists work with:

• Children and young people experiencing behavioural issues as a result of diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, developmental trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADD/ADHD, intellectual disability and sensory processing differences.
• Adults experiencing mental illness, including anxiety and depression as well as more complex mental illness such as schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder.
• Older adults, including Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)