Unit 6: AOTA Articles

Question 1

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), recovery is defined as…

Answer 1

“A process of change through which indi- viduals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential”

Question 2

The Recovery Model

Answer 2

• Requires a shared decision-making process that is per- son centered and client driven.
• The client–provider partnership supports shared decision making from the time the individual first engages in services, through developing intervention plans, and in all other aspects of the thera- peutic process.

Question 3

A primary goal of the recovery model is to

Answer 3

Facilitate resiliency, health, and wellness in the community of the individual’s choice, rather than to manage symptoms.

Question 4

SAMHSA (2012) identified 10 guiding principles of recovery:

Answer 4

(1) hope, (2) person-driven, (3) many pathways, (4) holistic, (5) peer support, (6) relational, (7) culture, (8) addresses trauma, (9) strengths/ responsibility, and (10) respect.
- These fundamental recovery principles are in full alignment with the philosophy of occupational therapy practice, which is inherently client centered, collaborative, and focused on supporting resiliency, full participation, health promotion, and a wellness lifestyle.

Question 5

Occupational therapy practitioners work collaboratively with people in a manner that helps to foster…

Answer 5

Hope, motivation, and empowerment, as well as system change.
-Educated in the scientific understanding of neurophysiology, psychosocial development, activity and environmental analysis, and group dynamics, occupational therapy practitioners work to empower each individual to fully participate and be successful and satisfied in his or her self-selected occupations.

Question 6

Occupational therapy practitioners assume a variety of roles such as…

Answer 6

Direct care therapists, consultants, academic educators, managers, and administrators.
-They may also work in state and national mental health organizations to help assist in local, state, and national transformation efforts.

Question 7

The following are examples of how the knowledge and skill base of occupational therapy is used in the process of assisting indi- viduals in all phases of mental health recovery:

Answer 7

• Teach and support the active use of coping strategies to help manage the effect of symptoms of illness on one’s life, including being more organized and able to engage in activities of choice
• Help to identify and implement healthy habits, rituals, and routines to support a wellness lifestyle by addressing barriers and building on existing abilities
• Support the identification of personal values, needs, and goals to enable informed, realistic decision making, such as when considering housing and employment options
• Support the creation and use of a wellness recovery action plan in group or individual sessions
• Provide information to increase awareness of community-based resources, such as peer-facilitated groups and other support options
• Provide information on how to monitor physical health concerns (e.g., diabetes management, smoking cessation), develop
strategies to control chronic symptoms, and recognize and respond to acute changes in mental health status
• Support the ability to engage in long-term planning (e.g., budget for major purchases, prepare advanced medical and mental
health directives) that leads to meeting personal recovery goals

Question 8

Occupational therapy practitioners are also teaming with…

Answer 8

Individuals, families and caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals, and other mental health stakeholders, including behavioral health organizations, payers, and communities, to help transform the culture of mental health care through the promotion and active implementation of recovery-based principles and practices.
-Together, these teams are designing innovative agency and community-based supportive programming based on these recovery principles.

Question 9

The “Recovery to Practice” federal initiative…

Answer 9

“Helps behavioral health and general health care practitioners improve delivery of recovery-oriented services, supports, and treatment”

Question 10

Where Are Occupational Therapy Mental Health Recovery Services Provided?
Occupational therapy practitioners provide mental health services in the following settings:

Answer 10

• Acute and long-term-care facilities
• Private and public hospitals
• Forensic and juvenile justice centers
• Residential and day programs
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Community-based mental health centers
• School
• Military installations
• Employment programs • private practice
• Outpatient clinics

Question 11

The practice of occupational therapy, like the recovery model, is based on…

Answer 11

The philosophy and evidence that individuals diagnosed with mental health conditions can and do recover and lead meaningful, satisfying, and productive lives.
-It is the profession’s emphasis on a holistic approach to function, participation, and partnership that is used to help support people with mental illness to develop skills, engage in activities of interest, and meet individual recovery goals.

Question 12

The origins of occupational therapy are rooted in…

Answer 12

Mental health, as the creation of the profession, dovetailed with the early 20th century’s mental hygiene movement.
-With the call for deinstitutionalization of individuals with mental illness, which culminated in the 1963 Community Mental Health Act, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants began working in community mental health

Question 13

Today, occupational therapy practitioners provide services in community settings including, but not limited to:

Answer 13

• Community mental health centers
• Assertiveness community treatment (ACT) teams
• Psychosocial clubhouses
• Homeless and women’s shelters
• Correctional facilities
• Senior centers
• Consumer-operated programs
• After-school programs
• Homes
• Worksites

Question 14

As services for individuals with mental illness have shifted from the hospital to the community, there has also been a shift in the…

Answer 14

Philosophy of service delivery.

Question 15

In the past, there was an adherence to the medical model; now the focus is on incorporating the

Answer 15

Recovery Model.
-This model acknowledges that recovery is a long-term process, with the ultimate goal being full participation in community activities. -These activities may include obtaining and maintaining employment, going to school, and living independently.

Question 16

The Philosophical Base of the Recovery Model

Answer 16

A good fit with occupational therapy because the purpose of occupational therapy in community mental health is to increase an individual’s ability to live as independently as possible in the community while engaging in meaningful and productive life roles.
-Because occupational therapy facilitates participation and is client-centered, it plays an important role in the success of those recovering in the community

Question 17

Both occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are educated to provide services that support…

Answer 17

Mental and physical health and wellness, rehabilitation, habilitation, and recovery-oriented approaches.
-Such education includes at least one clinical fieldwork experience in a setting focused on psychosocial issue

Question 18

There is evidence that occupational therapy interventions improve outcomes for those…

Answer 18

Living in the community with serious mental illness
-Such interventions can be found in the areas of education, work, skills training, health and wellness, and cognitive remediation and adaptation

Question 19

Examples of occupational therapy interventions in community mental health include:

Answer 19

• Evaluating and adapting the environment at home, work, school, and other environments to promote an individual’s optimal functioning
• Providing educational programs, experiential learning, and treatment groups or classes to address assertiveness, self- awareness, interpersonal and social skills, stress management, and role development (e.g., parenting)
• Working with clients to develop leisure or avocational interests and pursuits
• Facilitating the development of skills needed for independent living such as using community resources, managing one’s home, managing time, managing medication, and being safe at home and in the community
• Providing training in activities of daily living (e.g., hygiene and grooming)
• Consulting with employers regarding appropriate accommodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Conducting functional evaluations and ongoing monitoring for successful job placement
• Providing guidance and consultation to persons in all employment settings, including supportive employment
• Providing evaluation and treatment for sensory processing deficits

Question 20

Who can benefit from Occupational Therapy with mental health

Answer 20

Individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with a mental illness can benefit from occupational therapy.
-Furthermore, friends and family members can also benefit from these services to learn ways to deal with the stress of caregiving and how to balance their daily responsibilities to allow them to continue to lead productive and meaningful lives.

Question 21

Occupational therapy practitioners address barriers to optimal functioning through interventions that focus on…

Answer 21

Enhancing existing skills, creating opportunities, promoting wellness, remediating or restoring skills, modifying or adapting the environment or activity, and preventing relapse.

Question 22

Typical Community Barriers and Occupational Therapy Interventions.

Answer 22

• Stigma
• Safety
• Low Socioeconomic Status
• Lack of Long-Term Housing

Question 23

Stigma (Addressing Barriers to Mental Health in the Community)

Answer 23

Occupational therapy addresses self-efficacy by providing opportunities for mastery and promoting advocacy in civic arenas as well as individual interpersonal relationships.

Question 24

Safety (Addressing Barriers to Mental Health in the Community)

Answer 24

Occupational therapy interventions include self-care, accessing services and supports, and preventing victimization through healthy and meaningful daily activity.

Question 25

Low Socioeconomic Status (Addressing Barriers to Mental Health in the Community)

Answer 25

Occupational therapy interventions address educational, prevocational, and vocational performance. Occupational therapy practitioners collaborate with clients, educators, employers, and other agencies to help the person achieve success in the working world.

Question 26

Lack of Long-Term Housing (Addressing Barriers to Mental Health in the Community)

Answer 26

Occupational therapy practitioners can analyze performance skills and needs for living in the community (e.g., identifying the benefits of supported housing and developing routines and habits to maintain one’s living space effectively

Question 27

What is the leading cause of disability in the world?

Answer 27

Mental illness

• It can significantly impact an individual’s ability to engage in daily life activities that are meaningful and lead to productive daily routines.
• Occupational therapy is a profession vital to helping individuals with mental illness develop the skills needed to live life to its fullest.