SCRANTON, PA — During the recent Occupational Therapy Month, the Northeast Region PA National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has highlighted and celebrated the work done by occupational therapy practitioners, educators and students, including work to enhance the lives of individuals living with mental illness. 

Dr. Carrie Griffiths, faculty specialist in the University of Scranton’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Department, says she believes in empowering her students and preparing them with skills they need to work with people living with mental illness. Griffiths, who has spent years working as an OT in mental health settings, has integrated classes and trainings on mental illness for all OT students and forged a valuable partnership with NAMI.

“Getting students to understand mental health conditions is key for them developing holistic and comprehensive treatment plans, which in turn is going to help the clients they eventually serve,” Griffiths said. “I hope their training helps to improve overall societal attitudes about mental health.” 

In addition to the mental health course that Griffiths teaches OT students, students have accessed Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid training as well as the “Hearing Distressing Voices Simulation” program to better understand individuals who hear voices. NAMI’s signature program, “In Our Own Voice,” includes trained individuals, who share the story of their own mental health journeys. 

“What started as an inquiry from Dr. Griffiths about how to deliver mental health first aid training to her students has blossomed into a collaboration that benefits both parties immensely.” NAMI Northeast Region executive director Marie Onukiavage said. “The students get access to valuable mental health information they will use in their professional and personal lives, and we benefit from a group of enthusiastic volunteers at the annual 5K run/walk, which is one of our most important events to raise awareness in the community.”

Students understand the value of this community collaboration too. 

Kathleen O. Appau, a fifth-year OT graduate student who has taken many mental health trainings, including NAMI’s presentation, said, “The more opportunities we have, it will help us as future practitioners to ease our nerves to talk about [mental health] with anyone we think needs help and is open to it. I’m very big on ‘The more you practice, the easier it gets.’”

Griffiths has ideas for expanding the mental health and OT connection and says she is encouraged by what her students have already learned through the collaboration with NAMI. She said that students are able to recognize mental health crises and provide support until the professional help arrives, which is important because as occupational therapists they will work with individuals and might be the first point of contact for someone who is in distress.

Onukiavage says the relationship with the university is important, as are all of the community partnerships NAMI has in place.

“We value all of the partnerships we have with our local education institutions from this one, to the NAMI on Campus club at Marywood University, to the many campus fairs and activities that we participate in,” she said. “They all give us an opportunity to connect with and educate our future care providers.”

Any college, institution or business with an interest in mental health first aid training or other NAMI programs can call NAMI’s office at 570/342-1047 or email info@naminepa.org. More information about programs and support groups available to individuals living with mental illness and families of those living with mental illness is available at www.naminepa.org.