From using google reader and searching through blogs of interest I have found many blogs of relevance to the occuaptional therpay practise including, Assistive technology, Smitten Kitchen, Making a house a home, according to me and moving culture.
One blog I took particular interest in was a blog related to assisstive technology. It discussed how assisstive technology is used within occuaptional therapy and its uses amoungst clincal practise.
I posted a comment asking "Hi Madison ,whats one way the photo album would assist people with physical and
intellectual disabilites? You seem to have a really informative and indepth
understanding of this technology?" and she replied with "Well Jennifer. Thanks for following my blogs. One way it can assist the users
that you mentioned is it allows those who are non verbal to commuinicate in a
new way"
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Online Communities - Depression
For this tutorial I will discuss three online communities
which are related to Depression. Therapists are able to encourage and recommend
clients to seek these online communities to help guide the client if they want
to find out more ways of coping, and knowledge on Depression aswell as ways to
manage depression. Social networking can
benefit people in finding supports in online communities; this is especially
true for youth who have unique interests or feel isolated. Online communities
can encourage youth to find others who are may be dealing with similar issues. The
following online communities can enable the good mental health of young people
who are vulnerable or marginalised and can facilitate good mental health for
young people experiencing mental health problems. (The Benefits of Social
Networking, 2012).
Three online communities which I have found in relation to
depression are; depression helpline, The low down and SAVE; Youth Depression.
Depression Helpline
The depression helpline is ran by the face of John Kirwan, a
well-known ex All Black. He discusses the methods of getting through ways of
depression and asks you questions on your current state of mind, once you
answer a questionnaire he gives you ways of getting help and walks you through
some coping mechanisms. One of the main purposes of this site is to help people
with depression understand that it is okay to get help, and that help is
available. It provides education on depression awareness, information and
support. This community discusses the causes, provides an 0800 helpline and
contacts which could help you if you ever need someone to talk too.
The Low down.
The purpose of the low down online community is to help
young kiwis understand and deal with depression. This site is run by
“Navigators” which navigate you and take you through the website. The
navigators are Sonia Grey - TV Presenter, Dave Gibson - Singer, Jane Yee - TV
Presenter and Awa – Singer . Navigators can tell you of their stories and you
are able to listen to others. The site is very interactive in that you are able
to chat, listen to music, and participate in polls.
SAVE; Youth Depression
SAVE is an awareness website which addresses youth with
depression which may be having other mental health problems. It addresses that suicidal
children and adolescents have clinical depression alone or in conjunction with
another mental illness like anxiety disorder, attention deficit disorder,
bipolar illness (manic depression), or child-onset schizophrenia. It recognizes
that through treating children they can improve the chances a young person with
depression can live a longer, healthier, more quality life. This website has
many of the symptoms to look out for under the sub headings of verbal cues,
behavioural cues, high risk children, childs attempt at suicide behaviour and treatment,
what to do, and how to get help. It has a tool bar down the side which has many
options from how to cope with loss, new and events and a “lets talk about it
program”. It also provides a depression checklist, a newsletter sign up and a
helpline.
People have the options of contributing to each of the
online communities. This is evident through chat rooms, music, quizzes, polls,
and donations to the organisations. People may want to contribute for many
reasons. Sharing their own stories, to be a part of a community, seek help for
themselves or a peer, discover ways of coping and supporting these networks. Information
is shared both ways, as the communities provide information as well as allowing
the user to participate through chat rooms or story entries. All three of these
communities address and can relate to the concept of occupational justice which
refers “to that aspect of social justice that pertains to human occupation or the
lack of opportunity thereof”. The sites provide for users’ needs and allow
users to fully occupy within the webpage to express there, feelings, needs and
queries through discussion, online chat forums and helplines. Another concpet these communities relate to is that of Occupational transition. Occupational transition is 'the changes to occupational engagement as a result of
changes in daily life' (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010). Through these online communities each community aims to provide the user with ways to cope, manage and get through depression. The sites aim to help provide tips and mechanisms as an effective tool to encourage positive
participation in occupations to ultimately improve mental
health.
References
Christiansen,
C.H., & Townsend, E.A. (2010). Introduction to occupation: The art and
science of living. (2nd Eds.). New Jersey: Pearson.
Depression. (2012). Get through it. Retrieved from http://www.depression.org.nz/?gclid=CMLFq5_JhLACFfBSpgodvEFtjQ
Save. (2012). Youth Depression. Retrieved from http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=7059F90B-018E- 8AE4- A6C45D036A17D4F4
The Benefits of
social Networking. (2012). Services. Retrieved from http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved
Web definitions. (2012).
Occupational Justice. Retrieved from https://www.google.co.nz/#hl=en&q=occupational+justice&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=
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