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Archive for category: Mental Health

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The Role of OT in Suicide Prevention

Sometimes occupational deprivation, as a result of illness or injury, can be a catalyst for suicidal thoughts, or even actions. While this may be a heavy topic, we’re here to talk about how Occupational Therapists can make a positive difference in the lives of people who are struggling with thoughts of suicide.

The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention reports that 1 out of every 10 Canadians experience thoughts of suicide at some point in their lives. Occupational Therapists work with people who have experienced a loss of ability to complete everyday life tasks. When a person can no longer work, care for their children, or even go to the bathroom independently, it is easy to understand how thoughts of suicide can seem like an option. The good news is that Occupational Therapists are in the perfect role for addressing these types of situations, and inspiring positive outcomes.

When people have experienced a sudden disability onset like in a motor vehicle accident, we often hear statements like:

·        “I can’t do anything anymore”

·        “This isn’t how it was supposed to be”

·        “I’m missing out”

·        “I’m lost”

·        “I don’t know what to do”

The common thread in all of these statements is that people feel hopeless, and are experiencing occupational deprivation. Occupational deprivation is when a person feels that they can’t participate in meaningful activities due to factors beyond their control.  If this feeling gets strong enough, some people begin to feel that they may be better off ending their lives.  Occupational Therapists are skilled at enabling occupation, so it is easy to see how OT’s  play an integral role in addressing suicide.

One strategy proposed by Kim Hewitt, a leading OT in suicide prevention, is to ask the following question:  “Do you want to die, or do you not want to live like this anymore?

This question fosters hope in people who are struggling, and it also leads to action; if a person does not want to live like this anymore, they simply need help to make some changes in their lives.  Occupational Therapists can then use their skills in occupational engagement to bring hope into the suicide discussion, and to try to address some of the negative thoughts and emotions the person is feeling.

Remember that occupations are defined not just as paid jobs, but also as things we do that occupy our time.  Occupations can include cooking a meal, going to the bank, or reading a book.  Occupational Therapists therefore give people solutions for living, so that they have all the skills and tools necessary to re-engage in these meaningful life activities. This type of therapy takes time, and sometimes trial and error, but in the end it can help people get back to feeling like themselves again.  These positive feelings can help to combat thoughts of suicide.

Not everyone has training in suicide prevention, but it is a responsibility we all share; someone may approach you about it whether you’re ready or not.  Here are some basic strategies to consider if someone brings up suicide with you:

  • If a person discloses thoughts of suicide to you, they want help, or else they wouldn’t have talked to you about it. This is a compliment – don’t be afraid.
  • Listen to what the person is telling you. Don’t try to relate, or offer false promises like “you’ll feel better tomorrow.” Just listen to them.
  • It’s okay if you don’t know what to do at first. You can tell the person that you want to help because you care about them, but you’re not sure how. Offer to stay with them, call a crisis line with them, or call 911 for professional assistance.
  • Remember this is a medical emergency, just like a heart attack or loss of consciousness – you need to do something.

Our motto at Entwistle Power Occupational Therapy is hope, empower, succeed, and I can’t think of any better population this applies to than people struggling with mental illness and suicidal thoughts.

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Laughter Is The Best Medicine!

Tomorrow is April 1st and you know what that means–  April Fools!  April Fools day is a day for pranks, jokes and laughter.  It may also be one of the healthiest days of the year as laughter is often felt to be “the best medicine.”  Check out the following from The Huffington Post which discusses the health benefits of laughter.   Make sure to have some fun and create some laughs today!

The Huffington Post:  Why Laughing Is Good For Your Health

 

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Money Matters – Occupational Therapy and Disability Finance

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

One very important subject that affects 100% of the clients I see is financial stress.

We all have been advised to save money for a “rainy day”, but the harsh reality is that people generally can’t or don’t.  And there is a huge difference between saving money to replace an appliance, or car, and saving for the costs that might be associated with ill health.  Yet, I can tell you first hand that the cost of disability is significant and comes from lost work time, medications, equipment, costs of personal care, and therapy to name a few.  When struggling to make ends meet, people encounter stress, anxiety, panic, excessive worry, loss of sleep, relationship issues, poor decision making, and can result in addictions as a form of poor coping.  You can imagine how hard it would be to heal from injury or trauma when significant money stressors are created as a result!

Occupational Therapy fits into the problem of disability and money in two ways.  First, we are often involved in quantifying injury and loss into a Future Cost of Care Report, and second, we provide direct treatment to help people manage their finances more effectively.

A Future Cost of Care Report, or Life Care Plan is the process of and calculating the current and future costs associated with your disability.  This report is a dynamic document based upon published standards of practice, comprehensive assessment, data analysis, and research.  The report provides an organized, concise plan for current and future needs, with associated costs, for individuals who have experienced catastrophic injury or have chronic health needs.  This includes children born with a disability or anyone that acquires a disability, ailment or impairment over their lifetime.  Most often used in medical-legal domains, these are also helpful for families that are working to quantify costs to help someone with a disability to have funding for their future.

From a treatment perspective, occupational therapists are also involved in helping people to re-balance their financial situation, or to reduce the risks and consequences of poorly coping in the face of money problems.  We work with people to establish budgets, to understand and track spending habits, to link the person to their money behavior, to help people develop a plan for better money management, to achieve financial goals, and to prioritize spending to ensure key expenses are not overlooked.  When people become stressed, anxious and depressed we treat those symptoms too and provide strategies and solutions to help people reduce their concerns and reengage in productive activities.

Occupational therapists are also well networked and help connect clients to a banker, creditor, financial advisor or financial social worker.  We might introduce them to tax or savings programs that will help them to recoup expenses or budget for future costs, and often help them to complete and submit the required paperwork to expedite access to public resources.  We are aware of funding programs in the community that can help bridge expenses and income, can fund home modifications, equipment or therapy, or can direct people to community programs that can support them for food, shelter, or other living essentials.

Occupational therapists recognize the significant impact that money problems can have on someone’s recovery and understand that if someone does not have food, shelter or safety, few other goals can or will be achieved.

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Ouch! The Occupational Therapy Role with Chronic Pain

Guest Blogger Jessica VandenBussche, 2015

Pain is a common occurrence following an injury, illness, or traumatic event like a motor vehicle accident. While pain does play an important role in alerting us to potential dangers, injury, or an impending problem, it can also become a significant barrier to function as it can often continue long after the dangerous situation resolves.  Our brain can also change such that the pain message gets so used to being sent, these can start being sent faster and easier, even in non-threatening situations.

Chronic pain is difficult to treat and manage because of all the different factors that contribute to its intensity, frequency, and the many variables that can make it better or worse. Stress, depression, feelings of loss of control, pressures at work or home, and other mental or emotional factors affect pain perception.  Further, currently, there is no objective way for medicine to quantify pain which can make it even more difficult to measure, treat, and to understand the pain experience that varies between people.

The experience of pain then remains subjective.  And as this changes frequently under the presence of other factors such as secondary injury, low mood, stress, and other environmental pressures, pain can still increase even in the face of conservative therapeutic or medical management.  Whether or not tissue damage is found, it is difficult for someone who is experiencing pain to complete activities of daily life and to fulfill the roles that make them who they are (e.g. mother, father, worker, student, athlete).  For any of us that lose the ability to manage in an important life role, this can cause significant mental and emotional losses and anguish.  If the change in roles is sustained for too long without resolution, people can develop an altered sense of self, causing more psychological hardship which can lead to higher perceptions of pain.  Then the cycle continues.  The current best practice for addressing chronic pain is a multi-method approach that addresses mental, physical and emotional issues plus the effect of pain on daily function, roles, and identity.

Occupational Therapists play a pivotal role in the assessment and treatment of physical and psycho-emotional issues including chronic pain. Through our involvement, we analyze function, work to provide solutions and help break the pain-disability cycle.  We connect people to other providers that are necessary and impactful members of the treatment team.  Occupational therapists are also well-versed in strategies to help people sleep better, move differently, and adapt to disability to reduce the limitations that result from any condition, including pain.

In short, any injury, including a car accident, can cause pain. Whether this pain is primarily physical or emotional, visible or invisible, it is important to remember that the pain experience is real and can be debilitating.  Occupational therapists are qualified to identify the psychological, cognitive and physical needs of the individual and to provide treatment to improve function in daily activities. With appropriate treatment, pain and daily function can improve, helping the individual participate in meaningful activities and to regain or maintain their sense of self.

Useful Resources

Michael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic (Formerly Chedoke Chronic Pain Management Unit), treatment option for multidimensional approach to chronic pain

The American Academy of Pain Medicine, videos to understand pain, its reasons and its effects

Entwistle Power Occupational Therapy:  Chronic Pain a Problem?  Try OT

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Pink It Forward

Today, February 24th, is Pink Shirt Day in Canada.  A day that started as a way to take a stand against the bullying of a Grade 9 student who wore a pink shirt has now spread across Canada and is prominent in schools on this day each year.  Today Canadians are encouraged to don their best pink clothing and show support by “pinking it forward” on social media.  Please visit pinkshirtday.ca/pinkitforward and share your support using the hashtag #PinkItForward on your social networks to raise awareness and funds to help put an end to bullying.

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Postpartum Depression in Men

Postpartum depression is common and, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, affects 8-12% of mothers.  But did you know that this depression can also affect fathers?  Studies show that postpartum depression can affect anywhere from 10-14% of new fathers.  Check out the following article from the Toronto Star to learn more and take a look at our previous blog post “Man Therapy” to learn about some innovative help for men struggling with mental health issues.

The Toronto Star:  Postpartum depression affects one in 10 fathers

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Eating Disorder Awareness

This week, February 1-7th, is Eating Disorder Awareness Week.  According to a Government conducted 2002 survey, 1.5% of Canadian women aged 15–24 years had an eating disorder.  However, one of the biggest myths about eating disorders is that only females are affected.  Take a look at the following video from the National Eating Disorder Information Center that discusses some of the other common myths about eating disorders and how to seek help for yourself or a loved one.

 

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The Anxiety of Social Media

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
Co-written with Jacquelyn Bonneville, Occupational Therapist

I can only imagine how it must feel to be a teenager in today’s era of technology and social media.  When I was young, our social circles were those we could call, or see at school, in the neighborhood, at camp, or when playing sports.  If we did something wrong, embarrassing, or “bad” it could only ripple so far in the small puddle that surrounded us.  Now, that puddle is an ocean and our activities, photos, thoughts and feelings can not only reach people that we would not otherwise engage with, but can extend across continents.

Over the last decade researchers have been attempting to capture the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media, with mixed results. Social media platforms include websites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. People of all ages are engaging in social media, as it becomes one of the most predominant forms of communication. Social media has its benefits and risks, and as the rate of anxiety in North America rises it is important to consider how and why you may be using social media, and what it may be doing to your health.

In some ways, social media is not a new concept at its core. Humans have always desired information, gratification, and social exchange to a certain extent – they also require opportunities to de-stress, to socially disengage, or to feel surrounded by others and yet not obliged to interact with them. Social media trends have made it increasingly more difficult to switch off, leading many to feel constantly bombarded by notifications of what others are doing, thinking, saying, feeling (good or bad).

The concept of instant gratification is now more prominent than ever, with instant “likes”, comments, “re-tweets”, or number of “shares” available, and many strive to measure their social success in these numbers. As social media instant gratification is almost a new norm in society, this is likely to transcend into offline world. How will this expectation of instant gratification affect our ability to be patient with life events that typically take a long time to achieve, such as relationships or career development? What is all this pressure to be well-liked (literally) on social media doing to teens who are developing their social identities in the midst of a social, public world? What does online popularity mean for people who are easily influenced, or have low self-esteem and self-concept? These are questions many therapists are now addressing regularly in sessions with teens and adults alike.

You may have heard hot-topic terms like Facebook Addiction Disorder and Social Media Anxiety Disorder; though neither of these are valid diagnoses currently, it points to the notion that a serious shift is happening in our society. Social Media helps us to create a highlight-reel of our lives – either the life we are living, or the life we want to live – and we only post the things we want people to see and this is often enhanced, truth-stretched, fabricated, sepia-toned, and cropped. It leads people to believe that this is what college is supposed to be like, or what my summer is supposed to look like, or how I’m supposed to look as a mother out with my children. Some literature suggests that social media may be holding us up to completely unrealistic expectations, resulting in us feeling less pride for our accomplishments, and more anxious about how we may be measuring up. For more information on this, and an interesting video of youth explaining social media related anxiety, check out these two articles:

The Very Real Anxiety That Comes From Texting, ‘Likes’ And FOMO

Yale psychiatrist has one explanation for why students these days are so anxious

A study published by The New York Times in 2015 reports anxiety is now the #1 mental health diagnosis on college campuses. The constant comparisons, fear of missing out (or ‘FOMO’ as it is often phrased), and misinterpretations of texts are certainly impacting the mental wellness of people of all ages. As a result, anxiety rates are rising exponentially.

Self-reflection is an important tool often encouraged by therapists to help you understand your own behaviour. Occupational Therapists may encourage self-reflection through mindfulness techniques. For instance, why do you use social media? Look at your last status update or picture upload; why did you post that? Maybe the last interaction with social media you had was to write a comment on a co-worker’s LinkedIn profile, and you believe the reason why you did so was to support their competency of certain skills in hopes of maybe boosting their reputation. Now, think deeper than that, to subconscious reasons that may have also motivated you for doing this: Does it make you look like a good coworker or friend for doing that? Does it help spread your name to gain more connections based on who views their profile? Would you be even a little upset if they didn’t return the favour? So, it is important to ask yourself the question: Why am I really posting this? How does it make me feel afterwards? How am I hoping to make others feel?  Do I have a motive deeper than a simple “like”?

It is important to check-in with yourself regarding your thoughts about social media and why you use it, and to respect that the youth of today have entirely different challenges socially than you may have had. To completely withdraw from social media, or to stop your children from using it entirely, may actually be more harmful than good. However, if your urge to use social media becomes so strong that it is negatively affecting your relationships, work, enjoyment in your accomplishments, time-spending, or if it’s making you feel anxious, professionals like Occupational Therapists (especially those with additional training in Psychotherapy) can be an excellent resource to help get you back to functioning in a way that is meaningful and enjoyable for you. OTs are experts and understanding competing life demands, and have a wealth of experience and knowledge helping people to rebalance into productive function.

For other strategies on how to attempt to manage social media related anxiety, check out:

How to Calm Your Social Media Anxiety

In the end, the verdict is still out on the benefits and risks of social media – from a mental health perspective.  Personally, I could not find what I could call “authenticity” on Facebook but still found myself checking this too often.  So I decided to go on a hiatus and have not returned.  I miss the funny videos and seeing photos of my friends’ children, but don’t miss the ads, bothersome images, or personal crusades that people use this platform to promote.  The most important thing here is behavioral regulation – check your screen time, understand your thoughts, feelings and behaviors when engaging in Social Media and make changes if you are not happy with what you find.  And good luck – kicking or changing any habit is not easy!

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Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day in Canada.  Again this year Bell will be raising funds to support mental health initiatives across Canada and to help put a stop to the stigma surrounding mental health.  Take a look at these 5 great ways to help end the stigma and watch one of this year’s powerful videos.

 

Remember to tweet using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk and/or share the Bell Let’s Talk Day image to generate a 5 cent donation by Bell!