Occupational therapy with patient in mental illness

Hello reader. Previously I made a blog about occupational therapy in physical dysfunction. This blog, I will tell you about occupational therapy in mental field and this topic is talked by Dr.Supaluk Khemthong who have experience in ocuupational therapy in mental field and Dr.Anuchart Kheunnil who is moderator in this topic.

 

>> 1. What is the key mission of the occupational therapist in mental health?

The key mission of the occupational therapist is much more well-being and recovery in psychosocial in global view. 5 years ago in Thailand, they started change their attitude at OT, nurse, caregiver etc. They gather together not only medical hospital but include in community and Thai citizen. The clients not dangerous for anyone but they going along illness and it depend on hospital. In Thailand, government ignore us, not pay attention  this issue, they got conference about recovery model but in the practice not have policy in hospital. Everyone separate them. 

         

>> 2. What are the Thai OTs in mental health’s strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities?

Strength : We annually come to talk much more in recovery model

Weakness : We has major roles in mental health but other professional not know us. We try to disseminate but we’ve a few advertisement.

Opportunity : Nurses set up something like therapy as same as activity club but without Occupational therapist, so they not know OT and not believe they do activity alone.

Threats : Learn more and more in mental approach, concern to say something in your assessment, intervention.

 

>> 3. What the strategies are being used of OTs in mental health? How have these succeeded?

Good care taker. One time to psycho-education need more demonstration help to communicate them directly and how to educate to get quality of life. We need more treat ourself. Be a good listener, good teacher to do activity with them. 

 

>> 4. What have you learned about CMU-OT leading to build/create MU-OT?

Mahidol university (MU) like theory or dynamic learned already. Mahidol University got good opportunity, it located nearby Bangkok can work with other OT. We shared a learn every year. But Chiangmai University (CMU) have only point of view, change curriculum practical knowledge every year. Got real client come to treat you (come as a teacher). In future  for create a new way, helped together set up new curriculum to much more specialize. Graduate in 4 years and master degree in 2 years. Open curriculum to everyone for example people of mental illness can learn in OT, nurse could be OT, they can cure themselves in OT knowledge. But Thailand has a big barrier.

 

>> 5. What do you see in the future as an OTs in mental health and how is this led to success?

10 millions of people in mental illness but only 1 million go to hospital and 9 millions they’re stigma and everyone not understand them. In the future 5 years its multiple 3 times to 27 millions and we looking up them. Increased health promotion because everyone ot accumulative stress everytime. Once you got stress and mental illness will come and you must stay in the middle way. Public eye in Thailand, so the client can’t go to bus.

 

>> 6. On the issue of Thai community/society, Can use your OT professional skills are particularly interesting to you?

Naturally, they heal and got recovery themselves by talk to someone or go to temple for instance person who is Catholic, will enjoy every Sunday to sing and pray together. And OT will follow them, should be involved them by natural. We are OT. We disseminate them to make relative. OT will be friend. If you broken-hearted, some people can treat and support you. This is a key, if they understand, it will easy to recovery (but only half). When some people broken-hearted get them out dormitory and sit near them but don’t talk with them because they already know, you support them.

 

 >> 7. What do you see Thai OTs in mental health five/ten years from now?

Get more student work in mental health areas in 5 years. And some people else work as OT, they learned themselves and teach the others in 10 years.         

 

>> 8. What are your aspirations beyond Thai occupational therapist?

Need more inter-professional is a good model that apply in Bangkok hospital ask for nurse relative in OT. Everyone want to be a professional, they learned more and more together again in 6 to 12 months, talked about case study, adopt in recovery model. Declined barrier and learn together to share knowledge and idea not only OT but gather nurse, psychiatrist and OT can be psychosocial therapist. Common program such as psycho program psychotherapy , it linked to culture. One paradigm is client-centered, psychiatrist never learned and not know about psychosocial rehabilitation. Difficult to make every psychiatrist know it and know OT, this is a big gap.

 

>> 9. In 2015, Thailand as a member of Asian community. What do you think that AEC is positive or negative impacts for Thai OTs in mental health?

Due to we lack of professional and knowledge of well-being. Thai OT are very difficult, they earn money and slow in developing in recovery model. Client is customer. Factor of government, they have only 2 school (CMU & MU), OT grow slowly but  Physical therapy have 14 schools.

 

Finally, Thank to :

- Dr.Supalak Khemthong

- Dr.Anuchart Khennil 

To shared your experiences and many idea about occupational therapy.

sincerely thank you very much.

 

If you want to read in Thai language, please click this link: http://www.gotoknow.org/posts/563913