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Abstract
Occupational therapists providing interventions to young people often use activity based groups as their media for therapy. This narrative literature review aims to provide an overview of the occupations or activity-based groups currently described in occupational therapy literature for young people experiencing mental health difficulties. The four dimensions of occupation (doing, being, becoming and belonging) provided a theoretical framework. Relevant evidence was subjected to analysis of rigour and content. The review demonstrated that the highest quality evidence related to consumer experiences of participating in activity-based groups. However, there is little mention of theoretical frameworks or treatment outcomes for these consumers.
Key words
Group interventions, young adults, mental health
The onset of mental illness commonly occurs during adolescence and early adulthood (ages 13 to 25). This is usually when young people go through significant stages of development including independence from the family unit, identity formation, building social relationships, and the pursuit of educational and vocational goals (Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre, 2000). The symptoms of mental illness impact on young peoples' occupational performance and thus prevent them from engaging in a range of developmental tasks (McGorry, Edwards, Mihalopoulos, Harrigan, &Jackson, 1996). Participation in occupations provides people with purpose, meaning and structure in their daily lives (Kielhofner, 2002) consequently, wellbeing is affected by the ability to engage in chosen occupations of daily life.
Many occupational therapists work in early intervention services within the mental health sector, using a variety of interventions including individual and group work (Hardaker, Halcomb, Griffiths, Bolzan & Arblaster, 2007). A core feature of occupational therapy is the therapists skill in using graded activities that are meaningful to consumers (Townsend et.al, 2002). Albiston, Francey and Harrigan, (1998) found that the group programmes provided to young people with early psychosis may prevent the development of disability related to illness. Furthermore, Yalom and Leszcz (2005) proposed that people attending therapy groups may benefit from many associated factors including the instillation of hope, universality, interpersonal learning and the development of social skills. Group therapy also provides consumers with opportunities to work on a variety of individual goals. These may include increased structure and routine, while engaging in purposeful activities that allow them to explore and develop strengths and opportunities to build social skills,...