Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Critically Appraised Topic

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Anne Haskins

Second Advisor

Breann Lamborn

Third Advisor

Julie Grabanski/Devon Olson Lambert

Abstract

There is an increasing concern for mental health in university students transitioning to postsecondary education. For the purposes of this study, we were concerned with the overall mental health of university students, not specific to diagnosed mental illnesses. Mental health is “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community” (World Health Organization, 2022, para. 1). This may impact the individual’s ability to function on a daily basis and interact with others within their educational setting. The role of a student is also socially complex and demanding. It requires interaction with fellow students from diverse backgrounds, adapting to social expectations that vary among courses, and seeking assistance from peers and advisors when needed (Dobson et al., 2023). It is also evident that students in postsecondary education experience heightened expectations. This includes the amount of academic work, pressures to excel academically, and heavy demands to form a social community (Nanagas & Kantartzis, 2022). Furthermore, Storrie et al. (2010) explained that the stigma surrounding mental health causes students’ self-esteem to be negatively impacted, limit their abilities to obtain an education, and disrupt important relationships. There is currently a lack of visible evidence for occupational therapy (OT) interventions to support students' success in transitioning and coping with mental health while fulfilling the role of a college student experiencing a transition. The main focuses for this critically appraised topic paper are the occupations of health management and education, more specifically social and emotional health. According to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), social and emotional health promotion and maintenance is “identifying personal strengths and assets, managing emotions, expressing needs effectively, seeking occupations and social engagement to support health and wellness, developing self-identity, making choices to improve quality of life in participation” (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020, p. 32). Additionally, the OTPF describes education as the “activities needed for learning and participating in the educational environment” (AOTA, 2020, p. 33). Similarly, social, and emotional health plays a role in a students’ performance in education.

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