Occupational Therapy & Suicide Awareness

Carlie Bieranowski, OTS Anne Brady, OTS Melissa de Ryk, OTS Jana Meister, OTS Sharon Novalis, PhD, OTR/L

Purpose

Risk Factors and OTPF

Risk factors identified in the
literature:

To explore occupational therapys

role in suicide awareness.

Anxiety, depression, decreased QOL,

bullying, stress management,
economic status, perceived
burdensomeness, failed belongingness,
mental health diagnosis, substance use
Limited: social skills, education,
cultural sensitivity, support system,
self esteem

Background
The topic of suicide encompasses
suicide awareness, prevention,
ideations, attempts, and survivors.
On average, there are 117 suicides
per day (AFSP, 2015).
In the U.S., one person completes
suicide every thirteen minutes (CDC,

Link to OTPF:

2015).

For every completed suicide, there

are 25 attempts (AFSP, 2015).

Clinical Relevance
Occupational therapy has a positive
impact on overall quality of life by
addressing elements of the
Occupational Therapy Practice
Framework.
In occupational therapy, clients are
treated holistically, making
occupational therapists suitable to
identify and address risk factors.

Literature Review
Occupational therapy practitioners can
[enable] people to engage in activities or
occupations that provide hope and a
purpose to their existence (AOTA, 2005).
Specific OT intervention benefitted a group
composed of females diagnosed with
depression and suicidal ideations (Chen.,
Ay-Woan, Ping-Chuan, et al. 2015).

Occupation activity-based program can

assist in management of social challenges
for children with ASD and mental illness or
behavior disorders (Arbesman, M., Bazyk, S., &
Nochajski, S. M., 2013).

Client factors, occupations, context &

environment, approach to
intervention, performance patterns,
performance skills, outcomes

Future Research
Further research is necessary to
appropriately identify effective
interventions to proactively
address contributing factors.
Future research can be beneficial
in providing evidence supporting
the importance of education for
OTs in recognizing risk factors.