#OTWeek23 - OTs in student mental health

My work as an OT and UMHAN Member

We asked UMHAN member Rebecca Woods to explain how occupational therapy, and "occupations" support student mental health:

November 6th -12th 2023 is Occupational Therapy Week and this year’s theme is the “Power of Occupation.” #OTWeek23

Occupations are any activity that we need, want, or like to do to live and to look after our physical and mental health. They can be self-care, productive or leisure.
 
The focus of my role as a Specialist Mental Health Mentor is to help students achieve their full potential at university, while also mitigating the impact their mental health condition might have on them.  

Occupations are a frequent topic of conversation within mentoring sessions, and a source of both enjoyment and concern for students, even if this isn’t terminology that everyone uses or is familiar with. 

Shown below are just some of the strategies I have explored within mentoring sessions with students to enable them to meet their occupation related needs:

#OTWeek23