Arts-based interventions have been found to benefit adults with mental health conditions, however, the value of nonintervention creative experiences and activities requires further exploration. A scoping review was conducted to identify and map published literature to assist occupational therapists’ understanding of how creativity is experienced within everyday life. Nine databases were searched, and 23 articles were selected. Three forms of creative experiences and five themes related to the person, environment, occupations, spirituality and identity, and barriers and challenges experienced were identified. Findings support the benefits of various forms of creative experiences. Limitations, future research and implications for practice are discussed.

Refugee children are at risk of developing psychosocial problems. Occupational therapy practitioners can address some of these problems. Focus groups were held with 17 occupational therapy participants to identify interventions promoting refugee children’s psychosocial wellbeing in middle childhood in high income countries. Four themes emerged: (1) Making the most with what you have, (2) The child in their various environments, (3) Occupational Therapy lens helping to build a bridge between old and new lives, and (4) Sensitivity matters/considerations. Findings indicate research is needed to identify intervention effectiveness and increase use of macro-level interventions. interventions.

The prevalence of substance abuse in South Africa is growing fast, impacting negatively on quality of life. Individuals abusing substances present with impaired occupational functioning, which warrants occupational therapy intervention. Meaningful engagement in occupations contribute to well-being and quality of life of an individual. It is important for the occupational therapist to be aware of the enhancers of quality of life for the intervention programme of persons living with substance use issues. The barriers of quality of life need to be addressed in the programme in order to guard against relapse. A holistic approach to the intervention of substance abuse is of paramount importance.

This scoping review aimed to establish if horticulture is an occupation-based intervention in mental health recovery. Horticulture as an occupation was found to aid recovery by facilitating the social aspect of person-driven recovery based on strengths and responsibility. Where occupational therapists were able to use horticultural therapy, they did so in a client-centred and recovery-oriented outcome way. The findings support occupation-based and recovery-oriented occupational therapy practice. Use of recovery-oriented outcome measures and systematic appraisal of evidence are required to enhance applicability of these findings.

Meal preparation interventions involve people actively cooking food item(s). This study sought to add to the minimal literature by researching patients’ perceptions of the effectiveness of occupational therapy meal preparation activities in preparing them for lower levels of care. Participants engaged in meal preparation groups as part of standard occupational therapy treatment. Quantitative and qualitative data were concurrently analyzed using an embedded mixed-methods approach. Many participants (72%) felt prepared to transition to a lower level of care because of the meal preparation groups. These groups appear to offer critical and beneficial experiential learning for individuals in treatment for eating disorders.

Adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders exhibit atypical sensory processing and sensory gating deficits. However, little is known about how such processes affect participation in daily activities. We conducted a scoping review of original, peer-reviewed articles published in English-medium journals from 2000 to 2020. Five studies using quantitative or qualitative methods were included, revealing mixed results regarding the relationships between atypical sensory processing and participation in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Our search highlighted the need for further research using mixed methods. Additionally, paradigmatic and terminological differences within and across disciplines may impede interdisciplinary efforts to study this topic.

There is limited evidence for the cost and impact of occupational therapy (OT) interventions in transitioning from mental health institutions to independent living. A longitudinal case study was conducted in Ireland to evaluate the impact of OT in transitioning to independent living. Cost, resource utilization and quality of life data were collected for two participants using the Client Sociodemographic and Service Receipt Inventory, EQ-5D-5L and AQoL-8D. Subjective quality of life improved and use and cost of health services reduced, saving $218K over three years. These findings suggest occupational therapy may lead to sustainable benefits for individuals and mental health services.

Despite guidance to minimize restrictive practice within the UK, seclusion and long-term segregation are necessary to maintain the safety of patients and clinicians. There is little evidence to guide the work of occupational therapists with secluded patients. A literature search identified seven papers that met the study inclusion criteria. A deductive approach to thematic analysis was conducted using the ‘Model of Human Occupation’ as a theoretical framework to identify issues related to occupational need during a period of seclusion. Findings indicate ways in which occupational therapists could engage with patients in seclusion and suggest a need for future research.