Building Capacity of OT Students to Address Children's Mental Health During Fieldwork

To explore the meaning and outcomes of a four-month building capacity process designed to promote knowledge translation of a public health approach to mental health with children and youth among occupational therapy students completing a Level II Fieldwork experience in school-based practice.The study involved a one-group (n=19) mixed methods design using using pretest-posttest surveys and qualitative analysis of written reflections was used to explore the meaning and outcomes of participation in the building capacity process.The building capacity process expanded student knowledge of a public health approach to mental health resulting in increased awareness and application of embedded strategies addressing mental health during a Level II Fieldwork experience in a school settings.