Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention in Occupational Therapy Practice.

The purpose of this document is to describe the specialized knowledge and skills for entry-level occupational therapy practice in the promotion of mental health and the prevention and intervention of mental health problems, including mental illness. The foundations of occupational therapy are rooted firmly in psychiatry. The profession brings a habilitation and rehabilitation perspective to mental health services in keeping with increased emphasis on recovery and functionality directed toward participation in daily life occupations. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) supports the inclusion of the profession of occupational therapy as a core mental health profession in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and as a qualified mental health profession as defined by state statute and regulation (AOTA, 2006a).