Week One - Foundations & Mental Health Continuum

The 5 Mental Health Pressures

Pandemic effects, social media, substance use, climate change, and social disadvantage.

Pandemic Effect

Isolation, stress, uncertainty, anxiety, and depression

Social Media

Isolation, bullying, and negative self-comparisons

Substance Use

Co-occurrence contributes to mental illness and poor outcomes

Climate Change

Disasters and uncertainty affect mental health and functioning

Social Disadvantage

Stigma and exclusion increase exposure to stressful situations

Origins of Mental Health - Late 18th Century: Moral Treatment

Humane care emphasized meaningful work, leisure, independence, and self-worth

Origins of Mental Health - Early 20th Century: Meyer and Slagle

Balanced routines and habit training connected everyday occupation with health

Origins of Mental Health - Early 20th Century: Arts and Crafts

Purposeful handwork supported health, meaning, self-esteem, and participation

Occupation Lost & Reclaimed - Mid 20th Century: Reductionist Shift

Later practice increasingly targeted isolated person factors as a result of medicine’s preoccupation with discrete, quantifiable parts ready to “fix”

Occupation Lost & Reclaimed - Late 20th Century: Reclaim Occupation

Occupation-focused models restored context and meaningful participation (context, environment, meaningful participation)

Recovery-Oriented OT

Care moved beyond symptom management toward hope, meaning, empowerment, self-determination, and thriving within communities

Recovery-Oriented OT - Old Model

Success is the absence of symptoms

Recovery-Oriented OT -N New Model

Are you living a life full of hope and meaning, despite symptoms.

Mental Health Continuum:

Mental Health exists along a changing spectrum rather than a simple distinction between health and illness

Mental Health Continuum: Poor

Severe symptoms significantly disrupts daily functioning

Mental Health Continuum: Moderate

Challenges occur while daily functioning continues

Mental Health Continuum: Optimal

Engagement, relationships, purpose, positive emotions

OT Across Continuum: 4 Steps

Promote Wellness, Prevent Problems, Intervene Early, Support Recovery

OT Across Continuum: Promote Wellness

Support meaningful occupations, relationships, positive emotions, and healthy routines

OT Across Continuum: Prevent Problems

Teach coping, stress management, life balance, and harm reduction

OT Across Continuum: Intervene Early

Identify emerging concerns and preserve meaningful participation

OT Across Continuum: Support Recovery

Rebuild occupations, independence, community participation, and quality of life.

The mental health continuum is best characterized by:

Positive emotions, healthy relationships, and meaningful activity versus
serious mental illness and limited participation

Occupational therapy practitioners address psychosocial needs:

In every setting that provides occupational therapy services

OT Role Across the Mental Health Continuum

Integrate psychosocial reasoning into evaluation, intervention, and participation.