Perceptions of individuals with mental disorders and their families about the occupational performance: contributions of occupational therapy

Abstract

The objectives of study is: determine the perception of individuals with mental disorders and their families about the occupational performance in daily activities and the diffi culties
for this and describe the contributions of Occupational Therapy to assist in the improvement of the occupational performance in these daily activities. This study is a qualitative, descriptive
research that uses semi- structured interviews for the collection of data and the Phenomenological Method of Sanders for the analysis. Emerging issues were related to leisure and productivity. It was noted that several of the activities that the subjects liked to
perform before falling ill, were the same that he left to accomplish after the mental illness. There’s the desire to resume, as well as running new everyday activities, but there are barriers that are from fi nancial hardship, until problems intrinsic to the subject as fear and insecurity. The occupational therapist performs a partnership with the individual and his family, to help him to become an active agent. Can show the need of scientifi c development that contextualize the performance and the object of Occupational Therapy study in mental health.