The Occupational Therapy department provides rehabilitative services for people with psychiatric disorders. It specialises in the prevention, improvement and maintenance of function within the domains of work, self-care and leisure. Psychiatric disorders often impair the ability of patients to perform their roles effectively within the community. As such, vocational, cognitive and other forms of 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.
Our Services
The Octave ‘The OCTAVE’ is an occupational therapy facility set up to provide community living skills training, cognitive remediation, lifestyle management and therapeutic activities for people with psychiatric conditions.
Community Living Skills Training
Occupational Therapists assess and train skills such as self-care, household management, money management, using public transport, social interaction, accessing community resources etc. These skills enable people with enduring mental illness to re-integrate into society. The occupational therapist is also part of the community mental health team, which provides psychiatric rehabilitation for people in their own homes.
Cognitive Remediation
Cognitive remediation is a form of rehabilitation to improve thinking skills such as attention, memory, problem solving etc. It involves engaging in computer software exercises on a regular basis, followed by counseling to transfer skills learned during the computer sessions to address daily functional difficulties.
Lifestyle Management The occupational therapist also carries out lifestyle management with people who require assistance to achieve a balanced lifestyle and mental well-being. Stress management, activity scheduling, lifestyle education and exploration of interest are carried out.
Cottage Industry
To view and purchase, patients’ craft products, please click here.
Vocational Rehabilitation
This programme enables one to undergo a period of training, before moving onto open employment. Vocational counselling and supportive therapy are also carried out. Upon completion of the work training below, patients will be assisted to secure competitive jobs at the Job Club. Follow-up support at the job site will be provided, to help patients manage any challenges at work.
In collaboration with IMH Occupational Therapy Dept, Secret Recipe Pte Ltd has set up an outlet and a kitchen in IMH to provide Food and Beverage skills training for eventual competitive employment in this industry. Patients can choose to be trained as a service crew or as kitchen assistants. Occupational therapists work closely with their partners from Secret Recipe to customize patients’ training according to their strengths and limitations.
This is a family thrift store set up jointly with the Salvation Army. Patients are trained in customer service, stock taking , item display etc.
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 in collaboration with ISS Facility Services, where patients 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.
Sheltered Employment
Sheltered employment consists of industrial assembly work, which enables patients to build up a work routine and basic work skills. The occupational therapist also carries out lifestyle management with people who require assistance to achieve a balanced lifestyle and mental well-being. Stress management, activity scheduling, lifestyle education and exploration of interest are carried out.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
In child and adolescent psychiatry, the occupational therapists may carry out assessments and treatment to overcome functional difficulties at school. Occupational therapy for children include sensory profiling, handwriting training, creative therapy, social skills training etc.
Geriatric Psychiatry
Besides conducting reality orientation, reminiscence therapy etc., the occupational therapist also carries out activities of daily living training for the elderly. Carer education is also conducted to ensure home safety upon discharge from hospital.
Day Centres
The department also runs two satellite day 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.
Alexandra Day Centre
620 Tiong Bahru Road
Singapore 158789
Tel: 64797353
Buses: 32, 33, 63, 64, 132, 145
Nearest MRT: Redhill
Bukit Batok Day Centre
Bukit Batok Polyclinic
Level 3 50 Bukit Batok West Ave 3
Singapore 659164
Tel: 65667462
Buses: 66, 157, 174, 176, 178, 188, 941
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok
Contact Us
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
