Mental Health

The AOTA Specialty Conference: Mental Health will take place in person in Oak Brook, IL, October 25-26, 2024, with pre-conference sessions on October 24. All conference sessions will be held at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center.

REGISTER TODAY!

Early rates end on September 30 at 11:59 pm ET
Full: $355 member/$585 nonmember

Regular rates start on October 1
Full: $390 member/$620 nonmember

Daily Rates
Friday: $235 member/$350 nonmember
Saturday: $235 member/$350 nonmember

Pre-conference Rates
Pre-conference #1: $150 member/$175 nonmember
Pre-conference #2: $75 member/$100 nonmember

Cancellation/Refund Policy
If you need to cancel your conference registration, notify AOTA by email at conference@aota.org. A 15% processing fee will be applied to all cancellation requests made through September 30, 2024. Refunds will not be issued for cancellations after September 30, 2024, or for “no-shows.” Substitutions are accepted with written notice. Send questions regarding this policy to conference@aota.org or call AOTA at 301-652-2682.

View the Program Guide

Pre-conference Session #1: Youth Mental Health First Aid

• Thursday, October 24 | 9:00 am-5:00 pm
• Rates: $150 member/$175 nonmember
• Capacity: 30
• Earn 7.50 contact hours

Workshop Synopsis: Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches how to help an adolescent (age 12–18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Topics include anxiety, depression, substance use, disruptive behavior, and eating disorder.

Speaker: Christine Urish, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L, FAOTA, BCMH, Drake University, Des Moines, IA

Pre-conference Session #2: Moving Out, Moving Forward: Transitioning Clients with Comorbidities from Institutions and Fostering Occupational Participation in the Community

• Thursday, October 24 | 2:00 pm-5:00 pm
• Rates: $75 member/$100 nonmember
• Capacity: 50
• Earn 3.00 contact hours

Workshop Synopsis: We will explore occupational therapy's role in supporting clients with co-existing mental and physical health conditions to safely transition from institutions and promote occupational participation in the community.

Speakers: Emily Chun, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP; Jamie Angell, OTR/L; Andrea Carlson, OTD, OTR/L; Julie Cuba, all of Trilogy Inc., Chicago, IL

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Friday, October 25, 2024

9:00 am–10:00 am
Concurrent 101 | Not Just a Balancing Act: Supporting Well-being in Occupational Therapy Students
Burnout in occupational therapy may emerge during graduate student experience, highlighting the importance of organizational and psychological support for students' well-being. We will explore mindfulness approaches for supporting students' well-being.

Speakers: Evguenia Popova, PhD, OTR/L; Bridget Hahn, OTR/L; Olivia Lachowicz, all of Rush University, Chicago, IL; Brigid Bendig

Concurrent 102 | The Impact of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health, and the Relevance to Occupational Therapy
Climate change and extreme weather events (CCEW) impact mental health and disproportionately affect marginalized groups. This session will explore the impacts of CCEW on mental health and strategies to support well-being within occupational therapy practice.

Speaker: Audi Santos, OTD, OTR/L, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

10:15 am–11:15 am
Concurrent 103 | Empowering Patients in Psychiatric Care: Navigating the Path of Patient-Centered Interventions Towards Resilience and Equitable Access
This session will underscore the integration of patient cultural identities into care plans and decision-making, fostering resilience and ensuring equitable mental health service access for psychiatric inpatients.

Speaker: Elnaz Alimi, OTD, OTR/L, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL; Faith Brown
Contributing Author: Danielle Haubrich

Concurrent 104 | Collaborative Models of Care for Mental Health Needs in Correctional Populations: A Case Study for Occupational Therapy
This session will explore collaborative care models for mental health in prisons, emphasizing the unique role of occupational therapy practitioners. They promote recovery through meaningful activities, working alongside other professionals and correctional staff.

Speaker: Keagan Carpenter, OTR, OTD, Federal Medical Center Carswell, Fort Worth, TX

11:30 am–12:30 pm
Concurrent 105 | Demonstrating the Value of Occupational Therapy Services Using Outcome Tracking Within Interdisciplinary Teams
Participants will understand how to demonstrate the value of occupational therapy in mental health services through tracking and documenting outcomes.

Speakers: Jadalyn Wagner, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND; Clarissa Mireau, PHD, OTR/L, TPS, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Willmar, MN
Contributing Author: Sarah Nielsen

Concurrent 106 | Behind Every Behavior is a Feeling and Behind Every Feeling is a Need: Beyond Skill Development in Adult Mental Health
Complex trauma is strongly associated with mental illness. Understanding this association and trauma-related behaviors is central to supporting personal recovery. Addressing underlying needs often supersedes a traditional focus on skill development.

Speakers: Carol Lambdin-Pattavina, OTD, OTR/L, CTP, University of New England, Portland, ME; Melinda Cozzolino, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; Gina Baker, OTD, OTR/L, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Contributing Author: Tracy Jalaba, OTD, OTR/L, PEERS® Young Adult Certified Provider, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

1:45 pm–2:45 pm
Concurrent 107 | Outcomes From an Effectiveness Study of OT for Individuals With Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Substance use Disorder in Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS)
Learn about results from an effectiveness study on OT services as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team in IRTS for individuals with substance use disorder and serious mental illness, as well as recommendations for practice and implications for future studies.

Speaker: Clarissa Mireau, PHD, OTR/L, TPS, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Willmar, MN
Contributing Authors: Rebecca Estes, PhD, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM; Sally Wasmuth, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

Concurrent 108 | Impact and Awareness of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Secondary traumatic stress (STS) has varying consequences and has potential to affect health care workers, especially OTPs, due to work demands. This presentation will explore STS’s impacts on OTPs and barriers to roles, and suggest self-care strategies for coping.

Speakers: Ashley Lane, OTD; Julie Suto, OTD; Rocio Torres, OTD, all of Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL; Lane Kadlec
Contributing Author: Emily Simpson

3:00 pm–4:00 pm
Concurrent 109 | “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Designing and Implementing a Community-Based Participatory Action Research Study Alongside a Psychosocial Clubhouse
OT professionals can benefit from learning how to effectively utilize community-based participatory action research with community stakeholders impacted by serious mental illness to advance health equity initiatives and empower these communities.

Speakers: Gina Baker, OTD, OTR/L, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; Christine Urish, PhD, MSOT, OTR/L, FAOTA, BCMH, Drake University, Des Moines, IA; Jessica Schmidtberger; Lexie Chambers, both of University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

Concurrent 110 | A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of Bean Bag Tapping on Patient Distress and Well-Being: Results and Clinical Application
This session will present the results of a pilot study that examined the efficacy of bean bag tapping (BBT), a sensory modality. Attendees will subsequently learn BBT, identify benefits and precautions, and discuss use in clinical practice.

Speakers: Megan Flood, OTR/L, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN; Angela Balzarini-Leonhart; Peggy Ninow, OTR/L, Regions Hospital, St Paul, MN
Contributing Author: Karen Moore

View the program guide

REGISTER TODAY!

Saturday, October 26, 2024

8:00 am–9:00 am
Concurrent 201 | Healing the Whole Person: Addressing Mental Health Needs of Medical Patients Through Innovative Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Services
This session will cover the innovative, therapeutic approach taken by a Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Consult Liaison service line in order to holistically address mental health needs of individuals admitted to the hospital for medical care.

Speakers: Samantha Kaplan, OTR/L, University of Maryland, Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; Pooja Bhatnagar; Sarah Hewitt, OTR/L; Pamela Walker, both of University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

Concurrent 202 | 1-2-3 RESET™: Bridging the Gap for Student Success
Supporting students' well-being in the classroom is essential for positive engagement in school-based occupations. Learn easy-to-implement, evidence-based strategies from the 1-2-3 RESET™ trauma-sensitive framework to promote student success.

Speaker: Heather Schmidt, MS, OTR/L, Integrative Therapy and 1-2-3 RESET, Golden Valley, MN
Contributing Author: Dawn Paulson, MS, OTR/L

9:15 am–10:15 am
Concurrent 203 | Addiction and Recovery: Basic Concepts for the Occupational Therapy Practitioner
This presentation will provide participants with introductory information and basic knowledge of concepts related to addiction and recovery, such as different recovery models and implications for OT.

Speakers: Ryan Thomure, OTD, OTR/L, LCSW, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL; Ray Cendejas, COTA/L; Kate Wolff, OTR/L, QMHP; Cameron Honsa, OTD, OTR/L, QMHP, all of Ascension Housing and Health Alliance, Chicago, IL

Concurrent 204 | Occupational Therapy’s Role in School Mental Health: Integrating a Public Health Approach in School-Based Practice
OTPs have the capacity to contribute to school mental health efforts by implementing programming through a multi-tiered framework. These efforts support integration of a public health approach to meet the mental health needs of school communities.

Speakers: Miranda Virone, OTD, MS, OTR/L, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA; Sarah Greene, OTD, OTR/L, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN

10:30 am–11:30 am
Concurrent 205 | Supporting Wellness: Integrating Occupational Therapy and Psychiatric Rehabilitation
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of psychiatric rehabilitation and its essential principles, address how to integrate them into a curriculum, and share how to enhance practitioner skills to broaden their impact on the mental health system.

Speakers: Stephen Nawotniak, MS, OTR/L, NYCPS; Daniella Labate-Covelli, MSW, CPRP, both of The Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Albany, NY

Concurrent 206 | The Impact of Mindfulness on Maternal Stress and Harsh Parenting: Strategies to Support Mental Health Outcomes for Young Children
This session will explore associations between mindful parenting, parental stress, and harsh parenting in early childhood. Implications for the use of mindful parenting strategies in early intervention to support child outcomes will be discussed.

Speaker: Heidi Sanders, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Occupational Therapy Graduate Programs, Albuquerque, NM

2:00 pm–3:00 pm
Concurrent 207 | Navigating Crises Within Inpatient Psychiatric Settings: Occupational Therapy's Approach to Enhancing Resilience and Recovery
This session explores OT's role in crisis management in psychiatric settings, focusing on stabilizing patients, fostering resilience, and long-term recovery. It aims to enhance OT practices for better patient outcomes in psychiatric settings.

Speakers: Elnaz Alimi, OTD, OTR/L, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL; Faith Brown
Contributing Author: Danielle Haubrich

Concurrent 208 | Affirming Resilience: Occupation-Centered Care to Support LGBTQ+ Youth With Mental Health Needs
While resilient, LGBTQ+ youth deserve mental health support to navigate everyday life. This presentation will highlight occupation-centered practices to utilize throughout the occupational therapy process with this population.

Speaker: Ricardo Ramirez, OTD, OTR/L, Rush University, Chicago, IL

View the program guide

REGISTER TODAY!

Hotel reservation deadline: October 3, 2024

Host Hotel
Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center
3500 Midwest Road
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

Hotel room rates: $179 (single/double), $199 (triple), $219 (quad);
Check-in: 4:00 pm; Check-out – 12:00 pm
Room rates include in-room basic high speed wireless internet.

Room reservations may be made online.

Room reservations may be made online. To secure a guestroom via direct call-in, dial (630) 850-5555. To receive a sleeping room at our discounted group rates, identify yourself with AOTA.

Parking
Complimentary self-parking.
Valet parking is not available.

Airport and Travel Information
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Airport: Distance from hotel: 15 miles
Chicago Midway (MDW): Distance from hotel: 15 miles

Ground Transportation Options
Taxi
Ridesharing: Uber/Lyft