A case against generalisation of mental health occupational therapy in Australia

Abstract

Survey respondents believed that mental health occupational therapy was a potential growth area particularly where occupational therapy specific skills were retained.

Factors associated with professional identity, job satisfaction and burnout for occupational therapists working in eating disorders: A mixed methods study

“…These competing pressures could increase exhaustion and this was articulated by participants in interviews: going ‘above and beyond’ their expected role to provide occupational therapy interventions. This finding is also consistent with other literature exploring occupational therapy roles in mental health settings where the pressure to provide ‘generalist’ interventions as well as occupational therapy‐specific interventions was identified as a source of stress (e.g., Ceramidas, ; Hayes et al ., ).…”

Relationships between job satisfaction, burnout, professional identity and meaningfulness of work activities for occupational therapists working in mental health

“…Results from this study also allow for the exploration of the influence of ‘generic working’ on work wellbeing. Existing literature suggests ‘generic working’ may negatively impact the wellbeing of occupational therapists in mental health, especially for those working in community‐based settings (Ashby et al ., ; Brown et al ., ; Ceramidas, ; Hayes et al ., ). This study provided a range of data to further explore this issue.…”

“…Additionally, other factors that may undermine occupational therapists' wellbeing at work are challenges related to professional identity. This has been particularly highlighted in the area of mental health practice, where there has been a shift away from profession-specific roles towards more 'generic' or 'generalist' roles that can be undertaken by professionals from a range of disciplines (Ashby, Ryan, Gray & James, 2013;Brown, Crawford & Darongkamas, 2000;Ceramidas, 2010;Lloyd & King, 2001;Scanlan, Still, Stewart, & Croaker, 2010). While some see this as positive and supporting client-centred practice, others feel pressured to adopt approaches from the dominant paradigms of medicine and psychology and this can undermine their sense of professional identity (Ashby et al, 2013;Brown et al, 2000;Ceramidas, 2010).…”

Evaluation of the construct and internal validity of the Professional Identity Questionnaire: A Rasch analysis

“…Concerns about professional identity have also been specifically raised in relation to occupational therapy in mental health. This is particularly in relation to occupational therapists undertaking “generic” roles in mental health services (Ashby et al ., ; Ceramidas, ; Parkinson, Forsyth, Durose, Mason & Harris, ). In these contexts, lack of opportunity to use occupational therapy skills (Ashby et al .; Scanlan, Still, Stewart & Croaker, ) and pressure to adopt biomedical and psychological frames of reference (Ashby, Gray, Ryan & James, ; Ashby et al .) have been suggested to undermine professional identity.…”