MENTAL HEALTH FEATURE
• encourage discussion and practise of lifestyle choices that better meet their occupational and anticipatory healthcare needs ;
• enable participants to recognise the long-term benefits of occupational participation by exploring the value of a range of activities , in turn supporting the development of volition and engagement in activity ;
• support participants to reduce isolation , build supportive social networks and relationships , and promote sense of purpose , good mental health and recovery ;
• prevent relapse of mental health issues and the likelihood of offending behaviour ; and
• encourage future independent engagement in occupations identified through the group .
Group design and delivery Group inclusion criteria consisted of patients experiencing occupational imbalance , who had the capacity to engage and contribute within a group setting and would benefit from the specific group aims as identified .
Two members of occupational therapy staff facilitated the group and it was agreed the ideal participant number would be four to six patients , to allow adequate support and engagement with each of the group members .
In order to explain the nature and purpose of the group , facilitators met individually with the patients to discuss the aims and potential benefits . Each patient was provided with a group information leaflet and self-referral form . They were encouraged to discuss the group with other members of their clinical team , support staff and carers , to help them come to a decision regarding the referral .
Self-referral forms were created in order to provide patients with a sense of ownership and control in relation to engagement . The form included information on the patient ’ s current pattern of occupation , the types of activities they particularly enjoyed , and identification of which of the 12 Recovery through Activity categories they were interested in exploring .
From the 14 patients the clinical teams identified as meeting group inclusion criteria at that stage , five completed a self-referral form , participated in and completed the group programme .
The Recovery through Activity manual is designed to be used by the occupational therapist in a way that meets the needs of the participants engaging in the intervention , therefore there is no specific timescale in which the intervention needs to be delivered .
Similarly , not all 12 categories need to be included in a group programme , as this will be based on the needs identified by group participants .
During the introductory group session , participants considered each of the 12 Recovery through Activity categories , exploring the tasks and activities in each category . Participants then agreed the categories they would like included in the group programme ( see table one ).
The FCMH & LDT group programme was designed to cover the nine categories selected by participants .
It was explained that if participants did not feel that they would benefit from a particular session then they need not attend that week . However , the benefits of peer support were discussed and encouraged , which resulted in participants choosing to attend all sessions .
Table one : FCMH & LDT chosen group categories and activities
Category Social Self-care
Physical and outdoor *
Technology Creative Vocational
Community
The FCMHT & LDT group met in a private room in a centrally located library . It was facilitated over a 17-week period , alternating between theory and practical sessions for each of the activity categories .
The theory sessions allowed the group to further explore the types of activities included in each category and discuss the value and benefits in addition to any issues that patients had with engaging in these occupations .
During the theory sessions , group facilitators selected resources from the Recovery through Activity manual that were best suited to the needs and abilities of group participants . At the end of the theory session , group participants discussed and agreed the practical activity they would engage in the following week .
These practical sessions gave group participants the opportunity to experience new or unfamiliar activities , or revisit activities they had not engaged in for a long time ( see table one ). This enabled participants to experience first-hand the positive aspects of the activity as discussed in the theory session , and appreciate the physical , social , and psychological and emotional benefits .
At the end of each session , participants completed a reflective log , with prompt questions for guidance . Facilitators provided a verbal summary of the key point sheet from the Recovery through Activity manual , and what the group had discussed and participated in during the session to aid those with poor memory or recall .
Agreed activity Play snooker at community snooker hall Shop for self-care products Nordic walk in local park
Science centre visit Pottery painting at community project
Volunteer centre visit and discussion with centre staff
Christmas market visit and coffee Leisure Theatre show ; “ We Will Rock You ”
Note : * Physical and outdoor are two separate categories combined into one session
Participants then documented their individual experiences of what they had learnt or how they had felt exploring the activity
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