Occupational Therapy: First World War Centenary — Growth from Conflict

Abstract

thing for a Doctor to do — the only thing he can profitably do is to help him to help himself (Webb 2006, p344).’ Treatment included teaching at local schools and farm working, allowing servicemen to gain new skills and express themselves (Webb 2006). Seale Hayne in Devon was another military hospital that also treated service men with shellshock. Arthur Hurst was credited with pioneering treatment at Seale Hayne based on basic principles of occupational therapy, those being vocational activities to increase selfesteem and function (Jones 2012). So what now? Occupational therapy retains the practical foundations from the First World War but has grown conceptually and adapted to meet the complex needs of military veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As in the First World War, poetry and creative writing are used to enable self-expression. These, in addition to photography, encourage veterans with PTSD to re-engage with society and look at the world with a new ‘focus’. Today, occupational therapists in military mental health focus on resilience, wellbeing, and recovery. Current evidence suggests resilience is key to recovery and relapse prevention in PTSD, and in the prediction of those at risk following trauma. Occupational therapists work in collaboration with the veteran to support post-traumatic growth, build social support and a sense of connectedness with their community, enable practical skills for lifestyle management, and restore hope and realistic optimism. After veterans leave treatment centres, vocational rehabilitation can be continued through the support of other military services, such as SSAFA (a charitable organization for previous and serving members of the British Armed Forces) and the Royal British Legion. Occupational therapy is a critical, integral part of military mental health. It has adapted, and will continue to adapt to ensure that veterans are better equipped towards leading the life they want to lead.