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Community Mental Health Team: Mental Health Occupational Therapy

This service helps identify mental health issues which may cause individuals difficulty in tasks either at their work, in their home, or in the community.

The mental health occupational therapist is a core part of the community mental health team who aim to improve health and wellbeing through enabling participation in occupation (the activities, roles and routines of everyday life). Occupational therapists recognise that engagement in meaningful occupation can promote good mental health, assist recovery and help people achieve personalised outcomes such as being able to care for themselves, engage in work and leisure activities, and participate within the community.

The following evidence-based approaches are used by the mental health OT:

Providing education on coping skills and self-regulation skills to use in a variety of contexts
Providing education on sensory exploration and implementation of sensory approaches for self-regulation
Utilising Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approaches to facilitate participation in desired activities
Identifying and implementing healthy, positive habits and structure into daily routines
Providing education and implementation of skills related to social competence, such as making and keeping friends, coping with anger, solving problems, and learning about social etiquette.

Referral

Referrals can be made direct to the Occupational Therapy Department, by individuals, or, with the person’s permission, a referral can be made by an employer, family member or health professional.