Mental Health and Occupational Methods (5cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Objective

Purpose of the course:
The purpose of the course is to increase understanding of how mental disorders affect occupational performance. The aim is to learn how to enable occupation and participation with clients suffering from mental disorders. You will familiarize yourself with a coaching approach.

Competences:
Therapeutic relationship and interprofessionality
Clinical reasoning and occupational therapy process enabling participation
Responsibility and occupational justice

Learning outcomes:
You are able to describe how mental disorders affect occupational performance and participation. You will select and apply different methods to promote participation and occupation of people with mental health problems. You are able to justify your choices based on the principles of person-centered approach and evidence-based theories. You can apply interventions to the needs and situation of the client and/or client group. You are able to use, apply and modify the environment and the methods of guidance to support client well-being and promote participation. You are able to plan and adapt activities in accordance with professional ethical guidelines and to reflect on your own professional ethical thinking and actions.

Content

The main content of the course is to create an understanding of the impact of mental disorders on occupational performance and participation, and to learn to support the client’s participation in meaningful activities. The course deepens the knowledge of evidence-based functional methods. The course strengthens therapeutic interaction and guidance skills in client work.

Materials

Crouch, R. B., Alers, V. M., Ramano, E. M., Van Niekerk, M., Wegner, L. & Abbas, I. (2025). Crouch and Alers occupational therapy in psychiatry and mental health (6. painos). Wiley Blackwell.

Graham, F., Kennedy-Behr, A., & Ziviani, J. (2020). Occupational performance coaching: A manual for practitioners and researchers (1st ed.). Routledge.

Hansen, B. W., Erlandsson, L.-K., & Leufstadius, C. (2021). A concept analysis of creative activities as intervention in occupational therapy. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(1), 63–77.

HUS. (n.d.). Mielenterveystalo. Retrieved September 5, 2025, from https://www.mielenterveystalo.fi/fi

Korkmaz, U., Şimşek, M. H., & Şahin, Ö. F. (2025). Healing through art: The effect of art-based interventions on mental health outcomes in remote workers. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 22741.

Teaching methods

Webinars contact sessions and assignments.

Completion alternatives

The course can be completed A. with more intensive guidance from the teacher or B. more independently.

A. Weekly webinar meetings and participation in contact days. Guided Moodle assignments. The assignments are described in more detail in Moodle.

B. Independent study and participation in contact days. Independent study includes studying the course material on the Moodle platform and studying the course Coaching Methods for Supporting Clients in Everyday Life (Valta) on Digikampus Moodle. The assignments are described in more detail on Moodle.

Student workload

Preparation for and participation in contact teaching and webinars 1.5 credits
Assignments 1.5 credits
Coaching approach to supporting the client's everyday life Studying the content 2 credits

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass
You will be able to examine from different perspectives how mental health disorders affect functional capacity and participation. You will be able to select, apply, and modify creative intervention methods that are suitable for the client and based on evidence. You will select and apply interaction methods that strengthen the therapeutic relationship and promote participation in activities. You are familiar with the principles of coaching and can illustrate how coaching can be used in rehabilitation. You understand the diversity of mental health problems and recognize your own attitudes and values related to the phenomenon.

Qualifications

You need to be familiar with the basics of occupational therapy assessment expertise and its practical implementation.

Further information

The course is graded on a pass/fail basis. The tasks to be completed and assessed are specified in more detail in the workspace.