The Occupational Therapy Department provides rehabilitative services for psychiatric patients within inpatient wards as well as in outpatient settings. It specializes in the prevention, improvement and maintenance of function within the domains of work, self-care and leisure. Psychiatric illnesses often impair the ability of patients to perform their roles effectively within the community. As such, vocational, cognitive and psychosocial rehabilitation are necessary to facilitate patients to integrate into society.

Occupational Therapists work in the areas of adult psychiatry, child psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, community psychiatry and forensic psychiatry.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation provides patients with the necessary skills and behaviour to gain access to employment. Occupational therapists conduct individualised assessments to determine work skills and attitudes that require training. Training programmes are then tailored according to patients’ strengths and weaknesses.

Vocational Training Programme Available

ITE Certification in Food Preparation
This is a 3- month ITE certification course where patients are taught the theoretical and practical aspects of ingredient processing, proper use of kitchen appliances and food storage etc.

Juiceworks is an in-house sandwich outlet run by patients. The aim of this programme is to equip patients with the necessary skills to work in the Food and Beverage industry Patients are taught food preparation, food hygiene and customer service skills.

‘Pick and Choose’ Retail Store
This is a family thrift store set up jointly with the Salvation Army . Patients are trained in customer service, stock taking , item display etc.

Barista Express Café
In order for patients to be fully exposed to the challenges of competitive work, a social enterprise café has been set up at the heart of the Central Business District. It provides on-the-job training for patients who wish to seek for jobs within the service industry. Patients will also receive personal counseling and group support. Upon the completion of training, patients are assisted in job placement.

Barista Express café is located at:
#01-K2 Clifford Centre
24 Raffles Place
Singapore (048621)
Tel/Fax: 65366463
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place

Other work training programmes

Mobile Car Wash
This programme provides patients with training in manual car wash. Upon completion, patients will be placed out in a competitive work environment and support will be provided.

Clerical/ Library Administration
Patients are trained in simple clerical duties and book sorting.

Cleaning
This is a collaborative effort between ISS Facility Services and IMH. Clients undergo six weeks of graded training under the mentorship of ISS staff. In addition, occupational therapists provide job coaching and overall assessment of patients’ progress. Upon successful completion of the training, patients will be assisted in job placement.

Activities Therapies
Purposeful activities are carried out to enhance the cognitive, psycho-motor, interpersonal and intrapsychic domains of people with mental illness. Besides the learning of new skills, activities can also facilitate self expression, improve self esteem and bring about personal satisfaction. A range of activities are offered:

• Arts and Crafts: pottery, basketry, needlework, jewellery making, batik painting, paper craft
• Gardening
• Sports
• Cooking and baking

Check this space to view and purchase patients’ craft products!

Community Living Skills
Occupational Therapists are also responsible in carrying out community living skills training such as self-care, household management, money management, using public transport, social interaction, accessing community resources etc.

The occupational therapist is also part of the community mental health team, which provides psychiatric services for patients in the community.

Day Centres
The department also runs three day care centres which provide ongoing therapy for IMH patients. Patients attend the day centre regularly and engage in vocational tasks, group therapy, recreational activities and individual functional re-training. There is also a geriatric psychiatry day space within IMH Day Centre where group intervention such as reminiscence therapy and reality orientation groups are carried out.

Addresses of Day Centres

Our Staff
The Department is staffed by occupational therapists, therapy assistants, clerks and healthcare attendants.

For enquiries, please contact:
Ms Tan Bhing Leet
Head
Occupational Therapy Department
Institute of Mental Health
Buangkok Green Medical Park
10 Buangkok View
Singapore 539747