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The Benefits of Occupational Therapy to people with mental health problems

Occupational Therapy is any activity which engages a person's resources of time and energy and is composed of skills and values.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy:  

1. Improves patients' independence in activities of daily living (meal planning, shopping, cooking, using public transport, cleaning, budgeting, personal hygiene) and prepares patients for more independent living in the community   

2. imroves patients' self esteem, self-worth and confidence by achievement of activities and goals and engaging in valued occupations 

3. Enables patients to develop leisure skills and interests   

4. Improves patients' physical fitness and stamina through sports/exercise and increasing activity levels   

5. Develops patients' coping skills for dealing with difficult situations (e.g. addressing anxiety going about in the community)

6. Improves patients' cognitive skills through engagement in activity (e.g. concentration, memory, problem-solving, decision-making) ¡Improves patients' social skills through engaging in group work in the hospital and accessing the community

7. Develops patients' interpersonal skills by encouraging interaction, sharing and negotiation between members of the group     

8. Improves patients' vocational skills and increases future employment opportunities through voluntary work and therapeutic work in hospital and in the community 

9. Allows patients to assume valued roles and responsibilities (within groups, through taking up therapeutic work roles or engaging in education)

10. Provides a balanced structure to the patients' day and promotes beneficial use of their time whilst in hospital   

11. Enables patients to maintain links with the community outside of the hospital and promotes social inclusion by accessing mainstream facilities   

12. Allows patients to learn or improve IT skills which can be used for vocational or leisure pursuits 

13. Allows patients to achieve a satisfying performance and balance of occupations, in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure, which support recovery, health, well-being and social participation 

14. Patients are able to perform activities which have purpose and meaning for them, which improves patients' levels of motivation and commitment

15. OT's and patients work actively together in treatment to increase patients' responsibility, choice, autonomy and control, and prepare them for discharge into a less secure environment 

16. Positive risk-taking for patients within occupational environments    

For more information about Occupational Therapy in Glen Care, please call 01372 867 290.

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