It’s certainly no secret that mental health issues have skyrocketed since the pandemic.

In 2021, more than 57 million American adults experienced a mental health condition—a staggering number that represents 1 in every 5 adults.¹ Around 14 million of those struggled with a “serious” mental illness. Meanwhile, 7.7 million children and adolescents faced a mental health disorder the same year.

When we think of treatments for these challenges, traditional forms of care like psychotherapy and medication might immediately spring to mind.² These tried-and-true methods surely have their place in the realm of mental health, but there’s another means to recovery that’s just as important: mental health occupational therapy.

Keep reading as we dive into the unique relationship between occupational therapy and mental health and why it might be the career path you’ve been looking for.

Explore Our Program

What is Mental Health Occupational Therapy?

Mental health occupational therapy is a specific type of care that helps people live, learn, work, and socialize as independently and confidently as possible.³ To answer what does an occupational therapist do, especially in the context of mental health, they are highly trained medical professionals who work with a broad array of ages and conditions, including:

• Substance abuse disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Co-occurring mental health disorders

Whether a mental health OT is working with a senior who is wrestling with loneliness or a teenager battling anxiety, their goal remains the same. OTs provide individuals with the coping strategies, self-help skills, and mental health support they need to live a balanced, manageable, and even enjoyable life. Understanding occupational therapy's role in mental health is essential to appreciating how these professionals contribute uniquely to patient care.

Core Benefits of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Care

Mental health occupational therapy may seem like a fairly new idea. And yet, occupational therapy, as a discipline, is rooted in the mental health setting. Historically, OTs worked primarily in mental health environments.

Occupational therapy has held onto its legacy. And for a good reason: Supplementing traditional mental health recovery with OT services may enhance patient care by:

Improving Daily Functions

Mental health conditions can affect every major domain of a person’s life, including their ability to handle activities of daily living (ADLs), like:

• Bathing 
• Grooming and personal hygiene
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Eating
• Cooking
• Medication management⁴

Mental health OTs help individuals develop and practice self-care strategies to accomplish these activities.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Stress, anxiety, and excessive fear and worries are hallmarks of a mental health condition—and all can impact an individual’s ability to make decisions, solve problems, and live with ease.⁵

Mental health OTs help such people navigate these emotions through a handful of interventions.

Supporting Social Participation

Social participation is key to a well-rounded, healthy life. However, mental health concerns like anxiety can make even a small get-together seem unbearable.

Mental health occupational therapists nurture their clients’ ability to socialize. This may be achieved through helping a patient learn:⁶

• Self-regulation strategies
• Social etiquette
• Social-emotional skills

Let’s look at these interventions, as well as others, with a closer eye.

Occupational Therapy Interventions for Mental Health

Mental health occupational therapists work as part of a larger healthcare team to help people cope with psychological stress and gain autonomy. While every treatment plan is customized to the individual and their condition(s), a few of the most common and effective OT interventions include:

Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a cornerstone of mental health treatment. In terms of mental health and occupational therapy, cognitive restructuring is used to help clients:

• Recognize negative thinking
• Challenge self-sabotaging thoughts
• Change harmful thinking patterns

Sensory Integration Therapy

Another complication those with a mental health challenge may face? Sensory overload.

To this end, mental health OTs may implement sensory integration therapy, which supports a person’s capacity to take in, organize, adapt to, and deal with sensory information from both their bodies and their environments.  They might also help patients develop grounding strategies (such as listening to music and drawing) to help them feel less overwhelmed with their sensory experiences.

Ultimately, this may reduce stress and give clients a stronger ability to manage unsettling emotions and social settings.

Group Therapy and Communication Integration

Not only does this promote communication skills in their clients, but it may also teach them valuable lessons in:

• Job (and school) readiness
• Financial management
• Nutrition
• Independent living
• Sobriety
• Wellness recovery action plans (WRAPs)

Why Mental Health Occupational Therapy is in Demand

Are you intrigued by the idea of exploring a career in occupational therapy and mental health? You might be delighted to learn that research emphasizes its importance:

• In children and teenagers, mental health occupational therapy may help youth prevent bullying and manage rejection and aggression.
• Mental health occupational therapy may improve education and work performance in adults living with a serious mental health condition.

Or, as the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) puts it, “As federal, state, and local governments develop innovative ways to meet society’s behavioral health needs, there are increasing opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners to be a part of these programs.”⁸

This, coupled with the statistics quoted above, shows that mental health occupational therapy is more vital than ever.

Career Opportunities in Mental Health for Occupational Therapists

Mental health occupational therapists work in a wide variety of settings, including:⁹

• Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers
• Hospitals
• Community clinics
• Private practices
• Home healthcare

If the profession calls to you, you may also have the opportunity to obtain advanced or specialty occupational therapy certifications focusing on mental health. For example, an OT might explore the idea of becoming a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP). This particular credential may be ideal for OTs who hope to work specifically in adult psychiatric settings.

With or without certification, becoming a mental health occupational therapist may contribute to a healthier, more equitable world—and make a lasting difference in patients’ lives.

Embracing Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Care

Occupational therapy is a critical component of holistic mental health. By teaching clients how to handle their thoughts and emotions safely and effectively, mental health occupational therapists can help people of all ages harness calm and self-sufficiency.

Interested in learning more? Alliant International University might be the perfect place to start. 
Alliant offers a Master of Occupational Therapy program that gives students the knowledge, training, and skills they need to implement cutting-edge therapeutic interventions. Plus, with classes both online and in-person, you may find that it’s the optimal program for your busy life.

Explore the field of mental health occupational therapy by requesting more information today.  

---

Sources: 

1. “Mental Health by the Numbers.” NAMI, September 17, 2024. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/. Accessed September 19, 2024. 
2. Cohen, Katherine A, Colleen Stiles-Shields, Nathan Winquist, and Emily G Lattie. “Traditional and Nontraditional Mental Healthcare Services: Usage and Preferences among Adolescents and Younger Adults.” The journal of behavioral health services & research, October 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7817073/. Accessed September 19, 2024. 
3. Lyon, Sarah. “What to Expect from a Mental Health Occupational Therapist.” Verywell Mind, March 5, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-expect-from-a-mental-health-ot-250…. Accessed September 19, 2024. 
4. Receiving recognition: A case for occupational therapy practitioners as mental and Behavioral Health Providers | The American Journal of Occupational Therapy | American Occupational Therapy Association. https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/75/5/7505090010/12671/Receiving-…. Accessed September 19, 2024.
5.  “Mental Illness.” Mayo Clinic, December 13, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-…. Accessed September 19, 2024. 
6. “Occupational Therapists and Mental Health Interventions.” Moving With Hope, August 24, 2022. https://www.movingwithhope.org/posts/occupational-therapists-and-mental…. Accessed September 19, 2024. 
7. Lockett, Eleesha. “Sensory Integration Therapy: How It Works, Effectiveness.” Healthline, September 23, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/sensory-integration-therapy. Accessed September 19, 2024.
8.  Sandhu, Sharmila, and Heather Parsons. “Increasing Access to OT Services in Behavioral Health.” AOTA, December 4, 2023. https://www.aota.org/advocacy/issues/increasing-access-to-behavioral-health. 
9. Aota.org. https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot. Accessed August 24. 2024.