Public Health
American Occupational Therapy Association Fact Sheet
Occupational Therapy and School Mental Health
What Is School Mental Health, and How Does It Impact Student Success?
Mental health can be defined as “…a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). School mental health can be defined as any mental health service or support provided in a school setting (Kutash, Duchnowski, & Lynn, 2006). Children need to develop positive interaction skills and appropriate classroom behavior so they can successfully participate in school. School is the place where children learn academics and develop social-emotional skills by making and keeping friends, coping with feelings and stress, learning to self-advocate, and interacting in groups. Some children may have difficulty interacting with peers or maintaining self-control, leading to problems in making and keeping friends and paying attention in the classroom. Sometimes these problems are due to a mental illness and sometimes the cause of the troublesome behaviors is not clear. In order for a child to demonstrate appropriate classroom behavior, he or she may benefit from helpful routines for planning and organizing personal materials, tasks, and activities in order to pay attention and participate in activities with educators and classmates.
What Is Occupational Therapy, and How Do Services Address Students’ Mental Health Needs?
In schools, occupational therapy practitioners support students to succeed in their daily routines including classroom, playground, lunchroom, and extracurricular activities. An occupational therapy practitioner has a strong foundation in human development and activity participation. Occupational therapy practitioners have specialized knowledge and skills in • social and emotional learning and
Occupational Therapy and School Mental Health
What Is School Mental Health, and How Does It Impact Student Success?
Mental health can be defined as “…a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). School mental health can be defined as any mental health service or support provided in a school setting (Kutash, Duchnowski, & Lynn, 2006). Children need to develop positive interaction skills and appropriate classroom behavior so they can successfully participate in school. School is the place where children learn academics and develop social-emotional skills by making and keeping friends, coping with feelings and stress, learning to self-advocate, and interacting in groups. Some children may have difficulty interacting with peers or maintaining self-control, leading to problems in making and keeping friends and paying attention in the classroom. Sometimes these problems are due to a mental illness and sometimes the cause of the troublesome behaviors is not clear. In order for a child to demonstrate appropriate classroom behavior, he or she may benefit from helpful routines for planning and organizing personal materials, tasks, and activities in order to pay attention and participate in activities with educators and classmates.
What Is Occupational Therapy, and How Do Services Address Students’ Mental Health Needs?
In schools, occupational therapy practitioners support students to succeed in their daily routines including classroom, playground, lunchroom, and extracurricular activities. An occupational therapy practitioner has a strong foundation in human development and activity participation. Occupational therapy practitioners have specialized knowledge and skills in • social and emotional learning and