The Early in Life Mental Health Service (ELMHS) is a place where young people who are experiencing emotional, behavioural or mental health problems can get help.
ELMHS Occupational therapists most often work as ‘mental health clinicians’ and in teams that include psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, speech pathologists and social workers. This means Occupational therapists and mental health clinicians of other disciplines, will provide mental health assessment, risk assessment, an integrated understanding of why a young person has presented for mental health care, and treatment to promote their mental health and well-being.
What does Occupational Therapy offer?
Occupational therapists use their specialist skills and knowledge to think about how a young person is motivated to participate in the activities that they do and how this affects their health, development and sense of themselves. Occupational therapists use this knowledge to work with the young person and family to build participation in routines, habits and activities that will promote their mental health. Occupational therapists also incorporate other psychological interventions in treatment.
ELMHS clinicians can seek specialist occupational therapy assessments and recommendations to support the treatment they provide to young people and families. Occupational therapists provide assessments of motor skills, sensory processing and occupational performance to better understand why and how young people participate in the activities they do.