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Hello Everyone,
I am currently an OT student from the US, completing my capstone project in Curaçao. My focus is on advocacy for OTs to address the mental health of patients in the physical disability setting. Due to the cross-cultural aspect of the project, I am interested in gaining more information about mental health practices in the OT scope across other countries. For those who have worked in mental health, what has been your experience? Also, has anyone experienced difficulty getting into mental health practice in their country due to scope of practice issues or other reasoning?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Emma B., OTS
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Hi Emma,
In Australia , if you want to practice working with mental health clients, we usually start off in large community public mental health or acute mental health wards....that would be my recommendation due to all the risk issues and risk assessments yo need to master first before moving on your own in private practice....also clients with mental illness also may have many other underlying conditions usually cognitive impairment- those with severe mental illness that you would normally encounter in public services ... in private the diagnoses may be different....I am guessing your clients with physical disability would suffer more from depression and anxiety, grieving process and adjustment to their physical disability and illness. Mental health is everywhere and cannot be separated from other conditions... It is the way to practice holistically. All the best with your advocacy efforts to consider patient's mental health and well being in addition to physical.