mental health occupational therapy jobs with Pulse

A career in mental health can be extremely rewarding for many reasons.

The sector offers you the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of people who are experiencing mental health challenges.

You can help patients to navigate their difficulties, improve their wellbeing, regain a sense of purpose and promote ongoing recovery. You’ll be able to make valuable connections, enjoy constant variety and grow professionally through regular new challenges. If you’re interested in learning how the brain works and how we can improve our wellbeing, this work can be fascinating.

The demand for mental health professionals is also growing due to the increased recognition and awareness of mental health issues. This means there is a high demand for skilled professionals in the field and a wide variety of avenues to explore during your career.

As an occupational therapist in mental health, you’ll help empower people to carry out daily activities confidently, improving their quality of life. You’ll collaborate with patients to support their wellbeing and build their self-esteem. Within the role, your main duties will often include:

• Assessing people’s strengths, limitations, and goals, considering their psychological, emotional, and social needs
• Implementing personalised, patient-centred treatment plans, working with evidence-based modalities that combine occupational therapy and psychological approaches
• Creating strategies for managing stress and establishing healthy routines, which will help patients with developing or regaining necessary skills
• Making recommendations for modifying or making accommodations in locations such as the home, workplace or school

You’ll work with multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers, to ensure that patients get the care that they need and deserve. You’ll also involve family members and caregivers, providing education and support to enhance a patient’s overall support network.

Mental health occupational therapy jobs can be based in a variety of settings. These include:

• Hospital inpatient wards
• Outpatient clinics
• Community mental health teams, working in people’s homes, local clinics, health centres or other community environments
• Specialist health services, such as eating disorder units, young onset dementia services and forensic services
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Schools and other educational settings

Mental health occupational therapists help people who have psychological conditions or are facing life challenges. You’ll specialise in supporting those who have anxiety, depression, chronic stress or other conditions that impact their ability to manage everyday responsibilities.

Within this type of role, you can also help those who are experiencing life events such as bereavement or new parenting with tailored support around experiences such as grief or postnatal depression.