MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES IN MEANINGFUL OCCUPATION

It was from participating in the humanities course in first year of studying occupational therapy that I learnt being occupied is the essence of being human. However, people who experience mental health difficulties are limited in their ability to engage in their meaningful occupations and which in itself can deteriorate an individual’s mental and physical well being.

They may experience an inability to “occupy themselves in a productive and self-filling manner” (Rebeiro, 1998, p.15). This includes being able to structure and organise their day as well as finding and maintaining their occupations in regards to work self-cares and leisure. Therefore this also demonstrates their lack of occupational balance within their lives (Westhorp, 2003).

Their mental health difficulties can have a negative impact on an individual’s motivation and self-esteem. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and their ability to initiate themselves to participate in their meaningful occupation. Law (1998) states that “withdrawal or changes in occupation for a person have a significant impact on a person’s self-perceived health and wellbeing” (p.89). Stress also has a negative impact on an individual’s health and well being as experiencing feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious can limited an individual’s participating in occupation.

They can also experience difficulty with developing and maintaining relationships with others, and gaining that sense of belonging, therefore may decide not to participate in occupation where a group situation may occur. “Despite the basic human need to feel a sense of belonging, a person with an enduring mental illness can often find it very difficult to form satisfactory relationships and integrate successfully with groups” (Mee and Sumsion, 2001, p.122). For example, in one of my mental health placements, one of my client’s meaningful occupations was rugby. We would go outside on warm days and kick the rugby ball around, and see who could get it over the goal post. However, since he had difficulties being around people, especially a group of people, this limited him in joining a team.

(Picture from google images)

Overall, this means people who experience mental health difficulties also experience occupational deprivation within their lives and therefore significantly impacting on their independence, safety and of courses their quality of life.