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Mental health and well-being

The mental health and well-being of everyone is an important component of a healthy community. Occupational therapy can help clients, groups, and communities to manage physical and mental health needs, develop healthy and effective daily routines to promote well-being, and learn and utilize strategies to navigate the stresses of life.

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How can occupational therapy address mental health?

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Occupational therapy practitioners provide mental health services in communities, hospitals, schools, clinics, homes, and other places where people carry out their daily activities.

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Clinical Practice Guidelines

Practice Guidelines for Adults Living With Serious Mental Illness

This Practice Guideline provides an overview of the occupational therapy process for individuals living with SMI. It is based on a systematic review process addressing five focused questions examining the evidence for occupational therapy interventions to promote ADLs and IADLs, rest and sleep, leisure, and social participation; support employment and education; promote health and wellness; provide early intervention to reduce effects of SMI; and reduce internalized stigma.


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Research, articles, and books

Expand your mental health knowledge with the latest research, perspectives, and solutions from occupational therapy practitioners.

Young woman looking at cellphone while sitting on the ground. Logo to the left reads 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Connecting occupational therapy and 988

Calling or texting 988 can help save a life. The 3-digit code supports suicide prevention and the mental health crisis with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Occupational therapy practitioners have the opportunity to support the 988 crisis intervention initiative by building awareness, expanding outreach and using our skills, training and expertise to expand capacity to address mental and behavioral health in our communities.


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AOTA Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice allow AOTA members to network and grow in the context of social learning environment. As a core of our profession, mental health is woven through the work of many of our communities and highlighted more directly in those with specific topics pertaining to meeting the mental health needs of clients across the lifespan.

See full list of available Communities