Occupational Therapy Groups for Addressing Mental Health Challenges in School-Aged Populations

A new resource for school-based occupational therapists, Occupational Therapy Groups for Addressing Mental Health Challenges in School-Aged Populations: A Tier 2 Resource is a collection of occupation-based group interventions and tools that can be used to support students at risk for or with identified mental health challenges.

School-wide mental health programs are increasing and expanding. School-based occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to collaborate with traditional school mental health practitioners and provide an occupational perspective on how mental health can impact school performance and participation in academic occupations.

Occupational Therapy Groups for Addressing Mental Health Challenges in School-Aged Populations is organized into different sections to assist the occupational therapy practitioner or occupational therapy student in considering different aspects of providing mental health services in schools. The text serves as a flexible compendium of group activities and interventions designed to promote positive mental health for all students and support students at risk for or with identified mental health challenges.

What’s included in Occupational Therapy Groups for Addressing Mental Health Challenges in School-Aged Populations:

• Cases to help recognize the occupational impact of internalizing and externalizing behaviors
• A quick reference of common assessments and screening tools
• Occupation-based Tier 2 group protocols and data collection tool templates
• An online section for occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educators with ideas for learning assignments, rubrics, and classroom activities to prepare prelicensure learners for addressing school mental health needs once they enter practice

Occupational Therapy Groups for Addressing Mental Health Challenges in School-Aged Populations: A Tier 2 Resource expresses the valued contribution that occupational therapists make to school mental health initiatives while also addressing a major gap—a Tier 2–focused resource with intervention ideas and tools for answering this urgent call to practice.