Integrating OT services into mental health settings: An inside look at North Carolina's systems

Although the occupational therapy (OT) profession has roots in mental health, there are currently a limited number of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) who work in behavioral health settings, particularly in the community (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2019). According to the 2019 AOTA Workforce Survey, fewer than 5% of OTs work in mental health settings. Behavioral health organizations provide a host of services for persons with mental health diagnoses, but systemic challenges related to reimbursement and lack of historical integration of OT in these systems may be contributing to the exclusion of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) from the interprofessional team.