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A community development role for occupational therapists working with children, adolescents and their families: A mental health perspective
Author(s) -
Scaletti Rowena
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1630.1999.00175.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , mental health , occupational therapy , psychological intervention , perspective (graphical) , psychology , coping (psychology) , community integration , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , medicine , psychiatry , artificial intelligence , computer science , physical therapy
With world‐wide deregulation of mental health services, occupational therapy services are being decentralized with growing importance placed on community based interventions. The present article proposes a model of community development for child and adolescent mental health as one way of encompassing change. The model has five steps (developmental casework, mutual support, coalitions of mutual interest, pro‐active community participation, social movements), each facilitating change for subsequent stages of mental health. In combination with the theories of occupational behaviour, role acquisition, developmental and psychosocial theories and the use of coping resources and theories of community development, the model offers an occupation‐specific approach that empowers clients to take control of events that influence their health and lives.