Delivering occupational therapy services in mental health: Clarifying roles, assessment, interventio
Presenter(s)
Theresa Straathof, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational therapists have a recognized importance in mental health care delivery given their unique strengths for task analysis and assessing function, but can be quite varied in how assessments and interventions are carried out. Four factors that promote positive mental health outcomes and decrease readmission to hospital include psychoeducation to improve well-being (Tyler et al., 2019), medication adherence, decreasing suicide, and ensuring transition of support to community (Tyler et al., 2019; Owusu et al., 2022). Having agreed upon core outcomes for mental health discharge, as well as a clear description of occupational challenges that the therapy aims to address, will provide structure and transparency to service, and lead to greater understanding of effective therapy (Tyler et al., 2019).
This one-day practical skills workshop will focus on providing a structure for occupational therapy assessment and interventions and clarifying outcomes for mental health discharge. The workshop will provide an overview of entry points for occupational therapists to assess mental health function and needs such as behaviour activation, assessing/improving function, coping strategy training, and promoting four mental health outcomes to decrease relapse and readmission. At each of these entry points, case studies will illustrate the content and process to deliver interventions. The benefits of task sessions, functional assessments, and standardized assessments will be overviewed to provide a cognitive functional profile for the client and team. Coping strategies will be organized in four coping categories, with a summary of what each category brings to managing the stress response, participating in valued occupations, and promoting function. Kolb's Adult Learning Model (Kolb, 2014) will be described and illustrated as a tool to teach coping strategy content. Four coping modules will be reviewed specifically to target outcomes for successful transition to the community. These modules will address healthy and meaningful routines, medication adherence, suicide safety, and communication tools to connect with personal and professional supports. Small group discussions and practice opportunities in breakout rooms will be utilized to support occupational therapists in gaining efficiencies in clinical reasoning and decision making, collaborating with clients, and delivering interventions in mental health. By the end of this workshop, occupational therapists will have the tools and language to advocate and illustrate their role with clients experiencing mental health challenges.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: Structure mental health interventions based on four levels of needs (behaviour activation, assessing function, coping strategy training, prevention of relapse/readmission). Identify six techniques to activate clients. Name one formal and one informal assessment to aid in determining functional cognitive profiles related to various occupations. Define benefits for four coping categories and name corresponding coping strategies. Justify four coping modules to prevent relapse of illness. Demonstrate Kolb's Adult Learning Model (Kolb, 2014).