In recent years, the physical therapy program in UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources has expanded the scope of its education and treatment programs to include mental health.
Adjunct Assistant Professor Mary Beth Osborn will join the UW Department of Kinesiology in fall 2022. Her first semester with Osborne, she taught a health and wellness course that did not include a mental health component at the time.
“We felt that physical therapists needed to be knowledgeable about mental health conditions and concerns, such as anxiety and depression,” Osborn says. “Because for many of our patients, these symptoms can impact their ability to exercise and function.”
This included the inclusion of a mental health first aid program for all students in the major. The First Aid Program is a nationally recognized course, as is the Red Cross Physical First Aid Training Program.
The curriculum includes learning about mental health conditions, how to have conversations with people who are struggling with mental health conditions, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.
“The idea is to be a member of the community who has something to say and direct people to resources,” Osborn says.
The physical therapy program has hosted events such as campus-wide health screenings, including mental health screenings run by students and community volunteers. Physical therapy students can make specific physical exercise recommendations based on an individual's needs and challenges.
Osborne said physical therapists are well-positioned to provide recommendations regarding physical activity and exercise and should be part of a comprehensive health care provider team that includes mental health professionals. That's due to the fact that physical therapists are trained in motivational interviewing to help people find effective ways to stay active with specific plans, reminders, and accountability. is.
“We dig a little deeper into the exercise part so that mental health professionals can focus on what they're trained to do,” Osborn says.
A student-centered learning experience, UConn PT CARES (Community Access to Rehabilitation and Education Services) also provides one-on-one physical therapy for those suffering from anxiety and depression. PT CARES provides free physical therapy services to community members as part of a collaborative learning experience.
Osborn said about 30 students are currently participating in this hands-on learning experience.
Osborne said physical therapists need to have a seat at the table when it comes to the holistic treatment of mental health conditions, as exercise plays an important role in both mental health and mental well-being. Masu.
and physical health.
“We know that exercise improves symptoms of depression and anxiety, but physical therapists are usually not part of that team,” Osborn says.
On the other hand, anxiety and depression can prolong or worsen physical pain symptoms, something Osborne has seen in his own post-concussion patients.
“We need to treat the whole person, but [mental and physical health] They are intertwined,” Osborne said.
In 2020, the American Physical Therapists Association issued a position statement stating that mental health should be part of the scope of practice of physical therapists. They also advised physical therapists to screen all outpatient patients for anxiety.
“The idea of an increasing role for physical therapists in terms of mental health care is gaining traction,” Osborne says.
If you are interested in using the clinic's metal health services, please email Osborne at marybeth.osborne@uconn.edu.
This research is related to CAHNR's strategic vision area. Promote health and well-being locally, nationally and globally.
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