Occupational Therapy News July 2020 | Page 55

‘‘ Newport and Clarke (2020) conducted a study MENTAL HEALTH FEATURE to understand the experiences of people with severe mental health conditions participating in an Occupation Matters Programme (OMP), adapted from the Lifestyle Redesign © approach. Four people attending an OMP participated in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis, which followed interpretative phenomenological analysis guidelines, revealed three major themes: connecting with others; experiencing an opened-up world through a temporary project; and finding a place in the world through a changing sense of self. The authors identify that the OMP was influential in participants’ recovery journeys. They suggest that the study provides evidence for Wilcock’s Doing, Being, Belonging and Becoming framework: ‘Doing’ created a temporary project that facilitated ‘Being, Belonging and Becoming’. EVIDENCE LINK © GettyImages/vitranc Reference Newport A, Clarke C (2020) The experiences of people with severe mental health conditions participating in the Occupation Matters Programme: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, Feb 11. [Epub ahead of print]. Over the past seven years, staff and clients have worked hard to promote the walking group and it has become a valuable resource to the team. I wanted to ensure that the COVID-19 lockdown would not undo the work that this community mental health team walking group has achieved during this period. By exploring ways to keep the group connected during lockdown, I created a monthly newsletter entitled The Walkie Talkie. I wanted to use this opportunity to cut through the COVID-19 jargon and provide clear and concise information on the continuously-updated government guidance. However, I did not want this to be the sole focus of the newsletter. Using the Recovery Through Activity model (Parkinson 2014), I included articles that encouraged group members to continue their regular walks (adhering to social distancing at all times), promoted healthy eating, and explored new lockdown friendly activities. To make this more interactive, I asked the group members to contact me should they wish to contribute to the newsletter. Although skilled in developing creative ways to overcome barriers to meaningful occupations, due to COVID-19, occupational therapists across the world are currently trying to comprehend occupational deprivation on an unprecedented scale. I value the flexibility of our role, which enables us to be creative with our responses to the pandemic in order to promote the health and wellbeing of our clients. The first issue of The Walkie Talkie was distributed at the beginning of June and the feedback has been positive. Clients have appreciated the effort of remaining in touch during these uncertain times and this is something I hope to continue as the situation progresses. This newsletter has also been well received by my colleagues, most of whom have taken my offer of a sunflower seedling, with the hope of encouraging a friendly growing competition. Although we are not sure when the walking group will be able to safely resume, I hope that The Walkie Talkie will allow our group members to stay connected and to reassure them that we are all in this together. References Ball M, Corr S and Knight J (2007) An investigation into the leisure occupations of older adults. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 70(9): 393-400 Parkinson S (2014) Recovery Through Activity. Increasing participation in everyday life. Speechmark Publishing Ltd, London Wensley R and Slade A (2012) Walking as a meaningful occupation: the implications for occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2): 85-92 Jessica George, rotational occupational therapist, Gabalfa CMHT, email: [email protected] OTnews July 2020 55