Occupational Therapy Perspectives in Mental Health: A Global Oral History Collection

About the Project

In 2020, Dr. Ann Chapleau was awarded a funded professorship to explore the historical changes in Occupational Therapy (OT), with a focus on the drastic decline in mental health practice. In addition to completing a research study of discharge outcomes prior to the introduction of psychotropic medication in 1955, when treatment was primarily occupation- and sensory-based, Dr. Chapleau initiated this oral history project to capture the stories, experiences, and recollections of occupational therapists who have worked in mental health.

Project Goals

1. Enable a richer understanding of current mental health practice and those who choose this area of specialty, despite the challenges and limited support for mental healthcare
2. Facilitate further study among researchers interested in advancing the role of occupational therapy in mental healthcare
3. Create a network among mental health OT practitioners for support and collaboration