CHARITIES: Mental health and getting back on your feet
by Nikki Thompson, Founder & Executive Director
The Big Mental Health Report 2025, Centre for Mental Health estimates that around one in five adults (20.2%) in England are living with a common mental health problem.
Many of our charity customers are often not aware of the impact that an OT can have when working with an individual with mental health challenges. Traditionally the role of OT may well be perceived to be more about physical assessment and recommendations. However, occupational therapists also focus on how mental health affects everyday life and participation. Occupational therapists work alongside individuals to understand the practical impact of mental health challenges and to identify realistic ways to support recovery, independence and engagement in meaningful roles, both within the home and community.
Mental health recovery is rarely a straight path. For many individuals, difficulties such as anxiety, depression, trauma, stress or long-term mental health conditions can affect far more than emotional wellbeing. They can disrupt daily routines, impact on a person’s ability to work, reduce confidence and make it harder to fulfil important roles. In this article we will aim to explain how occupational therapy can support people who are recovering from or living with a mental health episode or condition.
Mental Health and Everyday Life
Mental health difficulties often affect a person’s ability to manage the ordinary demands of daily life. Individuals may find it harder to:
- Maintain personal routines and self-care
- Balance household tasks and family responsibilities
- Manage fatigue, motivation and concentration
- Engage confidently in work, education or community activities
Occupational therapists take a holistic approach, considering the person, their environment and the activities that matter to them.
Fatigue, Motivation and Daily Roles
Fatigue is a common challenge for people experiencing mental health difficulties and can significantly affect engagement in everyday roles. Low energy may limit a person’s capacity to keep up with family routines, maintain and complete personal care activities and / or engage with work.
Occupational therapy can help individuals to:
- Understand patterns of fatigue and energy use
- Develop pacing and energy-management strategies
- Create routines that balance self-care, family responsibilities and rest
- Break tasks into manageable steps that feel achievable
This practical support helps people re-engage in daily life without becoming overwhelmed, supporting both mental health and family stability.
Identity, Roles and Purpose
Mental health difficulties can affect a person’s sense of identity, including how they see themselves within their family. People may feel they are no longer able to contribute in the way they once did, whether as a parent, partner or carer.
Occupational therapists work with individuals to explore valued roles and identify realistic ways to re-establish them. This might include gradually rebuilding confidence in parenting tasks, renegotiating household roles, or finding new ways to contribute within the family while recovery is ongoing. The focus is on supporting participation in a way that is meaningful, sustainable and tailored to the individual’s current needs.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Meaningful Occupation
For many individuals returning to work, training or volunteering is closely linked to identity, routine and financial stability. Occupational therapists support vocational rehabilitation by considering both mental health and the practical demands of balancing work with home responsibilities.
OT support may include:
- Exploring readiness for work or training
- Supporting routine-building and role balance
- Identifying strategies to manage anxiety or fatigue across work and home life
- Helping individuals find meaningful alternatives where traditional employment is not immediately appropriate
How Occupational Therapy Supports Charitable Aims
Occupational therapy aligns closely with the aims of many charities by offering person-centred, practical support. OT assessments and interventions can:
- Clarify how mental health affects daily functioning and roles
- Inform support planning and funding decisions
- Help individuals develop sustainable routines at home and in the community
- Support confidence, independence and participation over time
By addressing everyday challenges occupational therapy helps ensure charitable support leads to meaningful, lasting outcomes.
Supporting Recovery Through Occupation
Occupational therapy complements other mental health services by focusing on what people need to manage daily life and fulfil valued roles. This can include rebuilding confidence as a partner or parent, re-engaging with work or community activities, and developing routines that support long-term wellbeing.
By focusing on participation, purpose and practical strategies, occupational therapy helps people not just cope, but gradually get back on their feet and move forward with greater confidence and stability.
Please read our case study of Brian (not his real name) showing the impact his supporting charity had on his future through the early engagement of an occupational therapist
Case Study: Rebuilding Routine, Purpose and Confidence
Brian is a member of the military community who had been medically discharged following ongoing mental health challenges after a combat deployment. Following discharge, he experienced persistent anxiety and low mood, found it difficult to manage medication consistently, and struggled to establish any meaningful daily routine. Over time, this led to a growing sense of loss of purpose.
Brian lived alone and was single. As his mental health declined, he gradually disengaged from friends and social activities, resulting in significant loneliness and isolation. Family involvement was limited, and much of his time was spent at home with very little structure or activity.
The charities case worker identified Brian’s challenges and through their engagement with us was aware of how OT could support this individual. An occupational therapy assessment was commissioned that identified that a lack of routine, reduced daily activity, and loss of meaningful roles were further contributing to the individual’s ongoing mental health difficulties. Together, the occupational therapist and beneficiary agreed to focus on rebuilding structure and confidence through a graded, person-centred approach.
A simple daily routine was developed and slowly built up over time. Weekly OT visits focused on introducing manageable activities, reviewing progress, and adjusting goals to ensure they felt achievable. One early goal was addressing anxiety around shopping, particularly in busy environments. The OT supported graded exposure to shops and worked alongside Brian to develop meal planning and preparation as a meaningful and practical activity.
As Brian’s confidence grew, the programme expanded to include volunteering at a local charity shop one morning per week, which later increased to two mornings. This provided structure, social contact and a renewed sense of purpose. Over time, Brian also began attending a local support group, developing a small but supportive social network within the community.
OT involvement lasted six months, with weekly visits. While some of the more traditional and well known OT interventions may result in a recommendations for a charity to fund an item of equipment such as a stair lift or scooter, in this case the primary resource was the OT’s time. The outcome was a meaningful improvement in routine, engagement and wellbeing.
Through this article we have aimed to bring to life the practical ways in which OTs can help support beneficiaries from within the charity community to move forwards despite mental health challenges. Occupational therapy offers charities a flexible and meaningful way to support recovery, focusing on what people need to manage everyday life and rebuild purpose at their own pace. By investing in skilled therapeutic input, charities can help ensure support is not only timely, but leads to sustainable and meaningful change.
References
Centre for Mental Health. (2025). The Big Mental Health Report 2025. https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/the-big-mental-health-report-2025
We are proud to support charities both large and small and would be delighted to discuss in more detail if you provide grants for health and well-being to your beneficiaries. Call Sam on 0330 024 9910 or email enquiries@theotpractice.com.
