These videos were created as part of CDC-TV’s Health Matters series for the general public and public health professionals.

The general public is encouraged to watch these videos to learn more about how they can keep themselves healthy by practicing improved hygiene. Public health professionals can use these videos to raise awareness and educate their community on healthy hygiene behaviors.

Mental-health conditions, which include behavioural and mental-health problems e.g. depression, anxiety disorders (including post-traumatic stress disorder), and disruptive behavioural disorders (such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disturbances, substance use, suicidal behaviour, and aggressive/disruptive behaviour) are the leading causes of adjustment problems in adolescents and young people worldwide. Mental-health conditions have a significant impact on the development of over a billion youth and their social and economic integration, including employability.

Yet, it is also critical that attention to global mental health moves beyond treatment-oriented programmes in health-care settings to include broader approaches inspired by public-health and social-inclusion considerations.

Here's a fun and cool activity that just went down at the The Therapy Institute.  The activity can be graded by the size of the connecting blocks.  Notice that for the older kids (at the blue table)  participating they are picking up individual blocks where the younger kids have 4-5 blocks connected. 

I often receive comments that after my day is done, and there are no more patients/clients to see, and the university lectures are over, that I must go home and read OT related research or OT text books.

The answer to that is a resounding "NOPE!".

After work, it is all about leisure.  I believe that everyone must have  a balanced life.  With that said, the many hours I spend inside of the OT world, whether its seeing patients/clients, lecturing, creating products, etc. I spend an equal amount of time in my leisure.

This short video is designed to put viewers into the shoes of a young autistic boy to experience the world through his eyes.  The minute-and-a-half long spot raises awareness of what it feels like to experience sensory overload; a key issue for many autistic people.

Yes!! A.O.T.A. wants to hear your stories about the implementation of the payment changes like the Patient Driven Groupings Model, also known as P.D.G.M., in home health, as well as PDPM changes. Your name and contact information will not be shared. Please provide as much (or as little) information as you would like. A.O.T.A. wants to hear what is going well and what is not. Follow the link below to voice your opinion on this important matter.

https://surveys.aota.org/s3/paymentchanges?utm_source=Alerts%2D3%2D3%2D2020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apply%20by%20Tomorrow%20for%20Volunteer%20Leadership%20Positions%20

Are you interested in being part of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force? The Task Force, composed of 12 to 15 members, will be selected to reflect diverse backgrounds, experience, and thinking across our profession. The door is open for seasoned and newer occupational therapy professionals as well as student representation. The work of the Task Force will be accomplished through virtual meetings, in-person meetings, and task force members meeting with and reaching out to occupational therapy practitioners and students. The work of the Task Force will be supported by the AOTA Executive Director, senior staff members, and an expert in diversity and inclusion strategy.

AOTA members interested in serving are requested to send a brief cover letter highlighting your interest in this Task Force, a biographical profile summarizing your background, and availability, to AOTA Executive Director Sherry Keramidas at [email protected] by March 13, 2020.

Mental health literacy is the beliefs and knowledge about mental health issues and their remedies. Attitudes and beliefs of lay individuals about mental illness are shaped by personal knowledge about mental illness, knowing and interacting with someone living with mental illness, and cultural stereotypes. Mental health issues are increasing and are alarming in almost every part of the world, and hence compiling this review provides an opportunity to understand the different views regarding mental disorders and problems as well as to fill the gap in the published literature by focusing only on the belief system and perception of mental health problems among general population.

All of us have the right to decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. For persons with mental health problems, achieving this right is particularly challenging. The importance of work in enhanc- ing the economic and social integration of people with mental health problems is highlighted in this monograph.

Objectives and strategies
• To strengthen mental health policies, legislation and plans through: increasing awareness of the burden associated with mental health problems and the commitment of governments to reduce this burden; helping to build up the technical capacity of countries to create, review and develop mental health policies, legislation and plans; and developing and disseminating advocacy and policy resources.
• To improve the planning and development of services for mental health through: strengthening the technical capacity of countries to plan and develop services; supporting demonstration projects for mental health best practices; encouraging operational research related to service delivery; and developing and disseminating resources related to service development and delivery.