THE USE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND MEANINGFUL OCCUPATION IN MENTAL HEALTH

Now let's learn about the use of meaningful occupation in mental health and how an occupational therapists implements this into practice to enhance the recovery on mental health individuals.

Mee and Sumsion (2001) state that “the closure of long stay institutions has resulted in mental health services being organised within the community providing opportunities for occupational therapists to reassess the value and meaning of occupation from their clients own perspectives” (p.121). Now occupational therapists can use their skills, knowledge and experience to enable mental health individuals to engage in their meaningful occupations within their specific environments.

The profession of occupational therapy supports the assumptions about the relationship between occupation and health as follows;

-          People are occupational beings

-          Engagement in occupation is healthy

-          People need a healthy balance of occupation

-          There are links with purpose and meaning

-          Occupation is a tool for healthy participation in life

(Creek and Lougher, 2008, p.26)

The value of meaningful and purposeful occupation is fundamental in occupational therapy. In regards to mental health, occupational therapists can engage clients in occupation that is meaningful and purposeful in order to improve the health and well being of a client throughout their progress in recovery by enabling them to overcome their effects of their difficulties. It is central for individuals to experience living a balanced and contented lifestyle (Mee, Sumsion and Craik, 2004). “Through doing, people are confronted with the evidence of their ability to function competently and take control of their lives as far as they are able” (Creek and Lougher, 2008, p.26). As a result of participating in occupation, clients “personal dignity and beliefs are enhanced and a sense of sense worth is developed” (Creek and Lougher, 2008, p.26) as through the use of occupation individuals can demonstrate and identify their potential. Therefore by developing a sense of self, individuals are influencing in controlling and mastering the environment that surrounds them (Mee, Sumsion and Craik, 2004).

(Picture from google images)

Individuals are more motivated in engaging in occupations in which they find meaningful. Therefore by using meaningful occupations in treatment intervention will initiate and motivate clients to participate and therefore enable them to enhance their physical health and well being. As a result, this increases the clients progress in their recovery (Goldberg, Brintnell, and Goldberg, 2008).

For example; I use exercise such as walking, dancing to music or zumba to release feelings of stress and anxiety especially around exam time. These are all occupations that are meaningful to me and that help me to maintain my mental and physical well being. I know that I can do these occupations so there is a sense of self satisfaction, worth and achievement when completing these occupations throughout the week.

Here is a link that shows the use of netball as a meaningful occupation with people experiencing mental health difficulties.

In using meaningful occupations in a client’s intervention, this will develop their abilities and skills to their possible highest level. Within doing this, it has the potential to enhance a client’s quality of life and sense of well being, increase satisfaction within their daily living, and improve their involvement and opportunities to be engaged in their daily/weekly occupations. Therefore the outcome of intervention is to aim for the client to be participating in their daily meaningful occupations that will “support recovery, health, well-being, satisfaction and sense of achievement” (Creek and Lougher, 2008, p.37).

ACTIVITY: Have a think when your feeling not yourself, what occupations do you use to help to improve your mental well being? What is it about the occupations that makes you have this effect?