Occupational Therapy's Role in Addressing the Psychological and Social Impact of COVID-19

Am J Occup Ther. 2021 Jul-Aug;75(Supplement_1):7511347030p1-7511347030p7. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2021.049327.ABSTRACTDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health care practitioners' primary focus has been on its physical consequences. Yet, the emotional strain of the pandemic exposed the mental health needs of survivors and society as a result of forced changes in occupational choices, habits, and roles. These forced changes caused a collective confusion, fear, loss, and grief. This column focuses on occupational therapy's critical contributions to supporting society's mental health and wellness. Occupational therapy has a unique opportunity to provide interventions to address population-wide mental health and wellness, targeted prevention of mental health concerns for people at risk, and intensive intervention for people with COVID-19-induced mental health diagnoses.PMID:34405802 | DOI:10.5014/ajot.2021.049327
Source: The American Journal of Occupational Therapy - Category: Occupational Health Authors: Source Type: research