Negative images in psychosocial occupational therapy.

On hehalf of the Wisconsin Mental Heallh Task Force, I am wriling 10 express the mixed emotional reaction experienced when reading the article "Ne\\ Pathways for Psychosocial Occupational Therapists" hy Sally Price (AJOT, June 1993, pp. 557-559). We were excited to see an arlicle [hat seemed to address the same issues that caused the development of our task force, hur as those in attendance read on, we were dismayed by yet another list of negative images projected onto those of us in psychosocial practice. How disheartening il is to see the studies rhat seem to indicare that the stigma of mental illness extends to those who work with the mentally ill. Therapists who represent areas of practice in inpatient settings, day treatment, community support, and educarion were presem ar Ihe meeling and all expressed a more positive image of Ihe psvchialric field Ihan Ihis article would indicate is possihle. II is grossl)! apparent that those of us with Ihe opportuniIy (() prauice in an eXCiting and meaningful way with persons with mental illness must provide positive fieldwmk cxpe,-iences to students. (H' at the very kast. we must try to incorporate some of Mike Lyons and Rohyn Hayes' recommendations to provide gUided positive c< )ntau (see "Student Perceptions of Persons With Psychiatric and Other Disorders," Alar. June 1993, pp. 541-548). In Wisconsin we havc a treatment decline in therapists and in fieldwork experiences in psychosocial treatment settings. On the other hand, new areas of sClvice provision in partial hospitalizalion programs and in community Oll[reach are a reality here. The positive aspeu of Price's article is the list of solutions. This letter is also to acknowledge that as a task force we are attempting to implement the fight for reimhurscment and promote opportunities for employment in the I)sychosocial field \'(Ie look forward to l1lore articles that address these