Occupational therapy from an ecosocial perspective of mental health

Abstract

It is described the experience of a therapeutic garden project located in the vicinity of the Psychiatry Service of the Guillermo Grant Benavente Hospital (HGGB) in Concepción, Chile, led by the Non-Governmental Organization Rebrota (ONG Rebrota) based on the ecosocial perspective applied in people with mental health needs. It aims to analyze this Eco-social Occupational Therapy experience as a practical tool for the transformation of territories, allowing occupational therapists to understand the interaction between society and nature as a socio-ecological process that impacts different spheres of human beings, especially in social participation and mental health. Using the descriptive methodology of the Eco-social Entrepreneurship Process Model, we carry out a practical orientation of actions so that communities, inserted in their natural and cultural environments, can discover themselves reflexively, generating collective health processes. Eco-social Occupational Therapy develops practices that improve health and promotes the well-being of individuals, groups and/or communities, generating a positive impact on socio-ecosystems and building healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable communities. Eco-social Occupational Therapy is an invitation to generate research-action projects to mitigate the social impact on nature in a context of the climate crisis, where we find communities in the genesis of transcultural knowledge that allows us to develop a transformative praxis for good living in tune with our environment; while improving their well-being and participation, from a human rights and occupational justice perspectives.

Environmental education in times of social-environmental crisis: possibilities of its inclusion in occupational therapy training, from the academics' perspective

“…This statement implies that in learning nature-based therapies in occupational therapy, these are understood as sustainable occupations, as reported by Simó (2011) with the community gardening project, Herrera Bravo (2018) and Mansilla et al (2023) with the use of horticulture in urban contexts and Farias & Faleiro (2019), with agroecology in rural contexts; since they are occupations oriented to the recovery and revitalization of green areas, they are based on respect for the times and rhythms that the land offers, and lastly, they have a conscious intention to break with patterns of anthropocentric and capitalist domination.…”

“…Together they become amplifiers of sustainable occupations among their family members and friends. In this same line, based on what Valderrama Núñez (2020) and Mansilla et al (2023) state, it is possible to point out that service learning is a strategy that can be used as a teaching methodology, to promote the appropriation of neighborhoods, recovering green areas such as squares and the construction of community gardens on vacant lots.…”

Educación ambiental en tiempos de crisis socio-ambiental: posibilidades de su inclusión en la formación de terapia ocupacional, desde la perspectiva de las/os docentes

“…Esta afirmación implica que en el aprendizaje de las terapias basadas en la naturaleza en terapia ocupacional, éstas se comprendan como ocupaciones sostenibles, tal como lo han reportado Simó (2011) con el proyecto de jardinería comunitaria, Herrera Bravo (2018) y Mansilla et al (2023) con el uso de la horticultura en contextos urbanos y Farias & Faleiro (2019), con la agroecología en contextos rurales; ya que son ocupaciones orientadas a la recuperación y revitalización de áreas verdes, están basadas en el respeto a los tiempos y ritmos que ofrece la tierra, y por último, poseen una intención consciente de romper con patrones de dominación antropocéntricos y capitalistas.…”

“…Conjuntamente se transforman en amplificadores de ocupaciones sostenibles entre los miembros de sus familias y amistades. En esta misma línea, a partir de lo que plantea Valderrama Núñez (2020) y Mansilla et al (2023), es posible señalar que el aprendizaje de servicio es una estrategia que puede ser usada como metodología de enseñanza, para impulsar la apropiación de los barrios, recuperando áreas verdes como plazas y la construcción de huertos comunitarios en terrenos eriazos.…”