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Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: Participation and Meaning in Daily Life

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Hum&QRinHS), Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Interests: mental health; occupational therapy; participation; meaning; daily life; community; qualitative research

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (TO+IDI), Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Interests: occupational therapy; rehabilitation; physical medicine; physiotherapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The latest mental health report from the World Health Organization, “World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all” (2022), indicates that more than one billion people have a mental disorder. This figure has worsened in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the increase in depression and anxiety in the general population being especially important. However, in the same way that health is not defined solely in terms of the absence of disease, mental health should not be viewed from a reductionist perspective, cataloging it only as the absence of a mental disorder, but as “a state of well-being in which an individual can realize his or her own potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and make a contribution to the community” (World Health Organization, 2001). Occupational therapy, as a health and social discipline, helps people to build a meaningful life by promoting personal autonomy in their occupations and daily routines, in line with participation within their social and community context. However, the experience of occupational therapists must be translated into research that provides evidence for their interventions aimed at promoting and improving the mental health of people and communities. Consequently, papers with qualitative, quantitative and mixed studies that address these topics are invited for this Special Issue.

Dr. Jorge Pérez-Corrales
Dr. Elisabet Huertas-Hoyas
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mental health
  • occupational therapy
  • participation
  • meaning
  • daily life
  • community

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1223 KiB  
Article
Social Support Networks and Care for People Who Use Harmful Drugs
by Letícia Andriolli Bortolai and Ana Paula Serrata Malfitano
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3086; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043086 - 10 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1643
Abstract
Background: The “problem of drugs” is a complex phenomenon with different social dimensions. Thus, the strategy to care for people who use drugs should consider their social support networks, which are defined here as dimensions that compose the social integration of people. Objective: [...] Read more.
Background: The “problem of drugs” is a complex phenomenon with different social dimensions. Thus, the strategy to care for people who use drugs should consider their social support networks, which are defined here as dimensions that compose the social integration of people. Objective: In this paper, we investigate how social support networks are organized, structured, and constituted according to clients of a mental health service dedicated to treat alcohol and drug abuse. Methods: Participant observation was employed in a mental health service for three months, and six interviews and three groups of activities were conducted with local clients. Results: The results demonstrated that the social network of this group is composed of informal and formal social supports: the former includes family, religious institutions, and work, and the latter was represented by a few institutions. However, there are few supports that contribute to the social inclusion and participation of these clients. Conclusions: Care actions should expand social networks, helping to create more solid relationships, considering the macro and micro social-life dimensions. Occupational therapists can contribute to this process by driving their action toward social life, building more social participation strategies, and reconfiguring care and social meaning in everyday life. Full article
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13 pages, 392 KiB  
Article
Emotional Impact and Perception of Support in Nursing Home Residents during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Qualitative Study
by Almudena Crespo-Martín, Domingo Palacios-Ceña, Elisabet Huertas-Hoyas, Javier Güeita-Rodríguez, Gemma Fernández-Gómez and Jorge Pérez-Corrales
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15712; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315712 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2537
Abstract
Social isolation measures implemented in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic generated occupational imbalance, discomfort, and mental health impairment in residents. We aimed to analyze the lived experience of elderly nursing home residents during the lockdown and social contact restrictions resulting from the [...] Read more.
Social isolation measures implemented in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic generated occupational imbalance, discomfort, and mental health impairment in residents. We aimed to analyze the lived experience of elderly nursing home residents during the lockdown and social contact restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Exploratory qualitative study. Information was collected through in-depth interviews and field notes. An inductive thematic analysis was performed and international recommendations for the development of qualitative studies were followed. Results: Twenty-four participants residing in nursing homes were included. Two main themes were identified: (1) emotional impact of the experience of COVID-19 lockdown (subthemes: experience of contradictory feelings; illness and death; importance of routine; feeling busy; and role of religious beliefs); and (2) support as a therapeutic tool (subthemes: family support; peer support; and professional support). Conclusion: Social restrictions by COVID-19 caused significant changes in residents’ occupations and routines, producing fear, loneliness, and abandonment of desired occupations; however, very important supports were also identified that helped to overcome the lockdown, such as social support, spirituality, and gratitude. Full article
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