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Newbie in OT
I am a second-year Occupational Therapy student going to be soon post in a psychiatry department where there is currently no Occupational Therapist in mental health. Many professionals here are not fully aware of the OT role in this setting, and I have been encouraged to learn from any ot books , and come back for discussion with medical other professionals like doctors psy, psychologist .
As a student, I genuinely want to learn where to begin and what core basics I should focus on for meaningful clinical exposure in mental health.
First, I would like clarity on the terminology:
Is it called Occupational Therapy in Mental Health or Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry?
Secondly, I want to understand our role as OTs in this setting—what exactly we assess, plan, and intervene in.
I also want to learn the basic classification of mental health conditions commonly seen in psychiatry—such as mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, etc.—and understand how an OT’s role differs or applies in each category.
At present, I do not have on-site OT guidance, but I am motivated to learn independently and responsibly. Any structured guidance on what to study first, how to observe patients, and how to think like an OT in mental health would be extremely valuable.
I am looking to build a strong foundation, not just theoretical knowledge, but a clear understanding of what we actually do as Occupational Therapists in mental health practice.
If you want, I can also:
Break this into a shorter version for WhatsApp
Rewrite it as a LinkedIn / professional forum post
Or guide you step-by-step on what YOU should start learning from Day 1 in psychiatry as an OT student
Thoughtful questions! I work in mental health and in response to your first question I use this term. I went straight into this area and learnt a lot about mood disorders etc, and while this is encouraged I would really encourage you to stay true to the OT theory. Being holistic is what makes us unique, treating each person regardless of their diagnosis, which often overlap. I would say that I use more practical and behavioural/ movement based approaches for those who are more anxious but find traditional talking therapies difficult. I use a lot of grading and adapting of tasks with visual aids for those on the spectrum. I use a lot of activity scheduling for those who need help prioritising, planning and organising their day (often associated with bipolar or mood disorder).