Exploring Competencies That Prepare Occupational Therapy Students for Acute Mental Health Practice: A Document...

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy education
• Mental health practice
• Curriculum development

Background:

• South African occupational therapy graduates face increasing demands in acute mental health settings.
• Current curricula's adequacy for this specialized practice remains insufficiently explored.
• This study addresses the gap by evaluating preparedness for acute mental health occupational therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the competencies essential for acute mental health occupational therapy practice.
• To compare national and international frameworks with South African occupational therapy exit-level outcomes.
• To identify specific curriculum gaps in preparing graduates for this practice area.

Main Methods:

• Comparative document analysis of key occupational therapy frameworks.
• Inclusion of WFOT Minimum Standards (2016), HPCSA Minimum Standards (2024), WHO Recommendations (2024), and WHO mhGAP (2016).
• Mapping these frameworks against the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) exit-level outcomes (2024).

Main Results:

• Seven core competency domains were identified across reviewed frameworks.
• UKZN outcomes showed strong alignment in cultural competence and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Partial alignment was found in recovery-oriented practice, assessment, therapeutic use of self, and resilience, with significant gaps in condition-specific knowledge, risk assessment, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and transition planning.

Conclusions:

• No single regulatory document, including the HPCSA framework, fully prepares graduates for acute mental health practice.
• Significant curriculum reform is urgently required for South African occupational therapy programs.
• Strengthening accreditation standards is crucial to ensure graduates meet the demands of acute mental health settings.