A call for sustainable practice in occupational therapy

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Science

Background:

• Global health is threatened by overpopulation, environmental degradation, and climate change.
• These factors pose direct and indirect risks to human health and occupation.
• Mitigation strategies and resilience-building are essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To link sustainability issues with occupational therapy philosophy.
• To explore how a sustainability lens aids professional reasoning and practice integration.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis.
• Linking sustainability principles with occupational therapy's core tenets.
• Examining professional reasoning in the context of environmental impact.

Main Results:

• Human occupation is intrinsically connected to environmental conditions.
• Human activities have precipitated the current environmental crisis.
• Proactive human intervention is crucial for future health.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapists have an ethical duty to promote sustainability.
• Integrating sustainability into practice builds individual and community resilience.
• Professional reasoning is key to creating a sustainable future.