Reablement in Mental Health Care and the Role of the Occupational Therapist: A Qualitative Study

• Main Authors: Merethe Seberg, Bengt G. Eriksson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-06-01
• Series: SAGE Open
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018784644

So far, reablement is mainly developed in care for the elderly. This study adds knowledge about reablement in mental health care and the contribution of occupational therapists to this field. Qualitative interviews with 10 occupational therapists were conducted and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Reablement is built around everyday activities, used as systematic tools for stepwise improvement of mastery and bettered mental health. The findings support a greater emphasis on reablement and recovery in mental health care. Reablement demands multidisciplinary teams, where occupational therapists can bring important skills and perspectives. Occupational therapists can contribute substantially to further reablement. Their knowledge about—and therapeutic use of—everyday life activities seem to be a useful approach to helping people with mental illness. The occupational therapy foundations are highly related to the elements of recovery.