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Mind Matters- Mental Health Resources for School-Aged Children
Occupational Therapy
What does an Occupational Therapist (OT) do to address mental health in school-aged children?
Occupational therapy can provide mental health promotion, education, and intervention across the lifespan.
The aim of occupational therapy services in mental health is to help all individuals develop and maintain positive mental health, prevent mental ill health, and recover from mental health challenges in order to live full and productive lives (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014).
​​Pediatric occupational therapy practice focuses on activity-based interventions involving play, leisure, and recreation to help improve children's social interaction, self-esteem, and positive feelings, and they reduce behavior problems (Bazyk & Arbesman, 2013).
References:
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American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (3rd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68 (Supplement 1), S1–S48. http://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.682006
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Bazyk, S., & Arbesman, M. (2013). Occupational therapy practice guidelines for mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention for children and youth. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press.
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