Occupational therapists across all four corners of the country have, for the last year, been debating and deliberating the priorities and issues in mental health services. Reflecting back and analysing their responses and discussions has been a journey of enlightenment. Time and time again, I was not only reminded of the high level of skill of our members, but the rejuvenating power of occupation and why the nation urgently needs to hear our offer. Occupation builds lives and heals lives when our mental health suffers. More than that, I believe that occupation may be the single biggest determinant of our health and wellbeing.
Too grand a claim? Let’s look at the facts. International studies and reports have repeatedly investigated what has the biggest impact on our quality of life and life expectancy - how long we live and whether that life was worth living. It’s not genes, or biochemistry or even being lucky enough to have access to free healthcare. Important though these are, they are dwarfed in comparison to the social determinants of health: your highest level of educational attainment; being in good quality employment; having enough money and safe housing; having positive social connections. This is what gives our life meaning, hope and unsurprisingly, keeps us mentally healthy and well.
Poverty, by contrast, restricts access to opportunity, exacerbating deprivation, alienation and imbalance.
Occupational therapists can use our expertise to help tackle the causes of inequality.
That’s why our reports Getting my Life Back – Occupational Therapy Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing across the UK promote the role of occupational therapy in helping people do well in education, employment, stay physically active and get help faster in primary care. We recommend that occupational therapists lead and innovate in the design and delivery of services that:
- Ensure young people with mental health problems transition well into adulthood by helping them achieve their full educational potential.
- Address the employment aspirations and needs of people with mental health problems.
- Improve the physical health of people with serious mental health by promoting healthy occupations like sport.
- Improve early access to mental health support in primary care for those who need more than medication and talking therapies.
The examples in the report show how our profession is helping young people do well in education, helping people remain in good quality work, helping people get more physically healthy and active through sport and helping people get an early occupational boost to stop problems escalating. By using the power of healthy occupations, we can help people get their lives back and revolutionise mental health care.
“I know that without your help and contact I would still be suffering in silence, but now I have more confidence, more self-esteem and most importantly, I have my life back.“
The reports just highlight a few examples, but there is so much more happening. So please let me know how your practice addresses any of these four areas, and get your voice heard. You can do this by completing the Getting My Life Back survey on SurveyMonkey (open until 11th July 2018) or email me at Genevieve.Smyth@rcot.co.uk
Read the 'Getting my life back: occupational therapy promoting mental health and wellbeing' reports.