Program to Increase Occupational Therapy Inclusion in Community Mental Health Practice

Occupational therapists are qualified mental health providers, however, inadequate numbers of practitioners work in the community to treat individuals with mental health conditions. A program to advocate for the profession of occupational therapy in community-based mental health was created to increase capacity for occupational therapy practitioners in this setting. A two-hour virtual workshop was implemented to educate participants on occupational therapy\u27s role, the barriers that limit occupational therapy inclusion, and methods to increase occupational therapy inclusion. Results indicate the virtual workshop was effective at increasing an individuals knowledge on the roles, limitations, and opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners in community mental health settings. Future recommendations include providing additional workshops to improve advocacy efforts through increased attendance.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstones-spring2022/1024/thumbnail.jp