Staff Profiles

Study Title:

Developing an occupational Therapy theory based intervention for young people experiencing the early stages of mental health difficulties: A mixed method study.  

A growth in the prevalence of mental illness and poor mental 'well-being' in young people has increased concern internationally (1&2). Reducing the impact of illness, associated financial and social burden through knowledge and intervention development is now a research priority. Recent success in mental health early intervention research has added further justification for research in this area (3).

The early stages of mental illness typically begin in adolescence and are established by 24 years of age in 75% of cases (4). Adolescence is widely considered a critical period for neurological, biological and psycho social development associated with transitioning into adult roles (5). Biographical disruption during this period can have significant lifelong implications and disrupt everyday occupations. Occupational engagement and participation, understood as all activity in which an individual engages or participates in, also changes during adolescence as they begins the creative process of exploring and working towards developing competency in adult roles (6). Arguably opportunities to explore, engage and participate in meaningful occupations may be impacted by ongoing cultural and societal change, with an adverse effect on well-being (7). The construction of meaning associated with specific occupations may also be impacted, therefore effecting engagement and participation in future occupations (8).

Occupational Therapy is a unique approach that views engagement and participation in meaningful occupation as central to achieving health and well-being (9). The approach applies knowledge and understanding of occupation as a therapeutic intervention enabling people to achieve an occupationally balanced and meaningful life, consequently effecting their experience of health and well-being (10).

This research seeks to explore adolescent perceptions and experiences of current engagement and participation in meaningful occupation. Generating new insights to be used in conjunction with existing knowledge to develop a new occupational therapy theory based manual for intervention with young people experiencing early stages of mental health issues. The final aim is to test the feasibility of the manual and identify practical issues related to its use.

• Department of Health (2011). No health with out mental health: a cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. Department of health and Social Care. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138253/dh_124058.pdf (Accessed: 17/01/2018).
• Department of Health (2014). Closing the Gap: Priorities for essential change in mental health. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281250/Closing_the_gap_V2_-_17_Feb_2014.pdf (Accessed:17/01/2018).
• Andrew, A., Knapp, M., McCrone, P., Parsonage, M., & Trachtenberg, M., (2012). ‘Effective Interventions in Schizophrenia: the economic case’. LSE Research online. Available at: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/47406/7/__libfile_repository_Content_Knapp%2C%20M_Effective%20Interventions%20in%20schizophrenia%20the%20economic%20case_Effective%20Interventions%20in%20schizophrenia%20%28LSERO%29.pdf (Accessed: 17/01/2018).
• Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Merikangas KR, Walters EE (2005). ‘Lifetime Prevalence and Age-of-onset Distributions of DSM-IV in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication’. Archives of Genral Psychiatry, 62 (6), pp 593-602. Available at: DOI:10.1001/ARCHPSYC.62.6.593.
• Ref- Adolescent research paper
• Taylor R R. & Kielhofner, G. (2017) Kielhofner’s Model of human occupation: Theory and application. 5^th Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• The paper I read that talked about pressure in schools.
• Unruh, A. M., (2004) ‘Reflections on: ”So…What do you do?” Occupation and the construction of identity’. Candian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71 (5), pp 290-295. Available at: https://search-proquest-com.oxfordbrookes.idm.oclc.org/docview/1966777936/fulltextPDF/7B9284FE35584166PQ/1?accountid=13041. Accessed 17/01/2018.
• Wilcock, Ann Allart (1998). ‘Reflections on Doing Being and Becoming’. The Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65 (5), pp248-256. Available at https://search-proquest-com.oxfordbrookes.idm.oclc.org/docview/1967279322/fulltextPDF/72D540639EB94294PQ/1?accountid=13041. Accessed: 17/01/2018.
• Hasselkus, B. (2011). The meaning of everyday occupation. 2^nd London, Thorofare Slack Inc.

Research group membership

OSOS 

Centre for Movement, Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences (MOReS)

Oxford Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research (OxINMAHR)

Research grants and awards

Elizabeth Casson Trust PHD Studentship

Casson funding applications for travel to conferences awarded in 2012 and 2014.

Research projects

Past Projects

2015 to 2016 Service evaluation research, Supervisied to 2 undergraduate psychology students to undertake a service evaluation of service user experience of discharge from the Early Intervention service. The study provided insight into how service user experience could be improved.

2013 to 2014:  OT EIS Scoping survey,   A survey was undertaken using and adapted form of the MOHOST tool to interview care coordinators about the needs of each of the service users on their caseloads. Over 100 cases where reviewed and provided insights in to the occupational needs of EIS service users.

2007 to 2015: Co-created project/Collaboration between Service User, accademics and clinicans to undertake research - Title: The Researching Psychosis together Group.

 A group of mental health service user experts, an academic and a clinician based at Brunel University based at Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Middx UB8 3PH.

Outputs Included:

• Collaborating on the Research project ‘living with Psychosis’
• Participating in the Brunel Knowledge Transfer Scheme to work on the ‘Meeting in the Mist’ Research project.
• Collaborating with occupational therapist MSc student from Brunel University with the Rainbow Reflections Research Project.
• Co presenting to occupational therapy MSc cohort in 2010 and 2011
• Co presenting at various conferences including CNWL annual OT Conference in 2009, OT Mental Health Specialist section conference in 2010, COT Annual conference in 2010, Involve Conference in 2011. Future planned conferences include Refocus on recovery in March 2012.                                                          

2012: Master of Research in Clinical Practice,  “Gaining ‘Meaningful occupation’ following first episode psychosis: A qualitative study of service user experiences”.   

Parsonage J. (2016) Early Intervention in Psychosis the Occupational Therapist's role. Ed by. Clewes J & Kirkwood R. Diverse roles for Occupational Therapists. M&K Publishing, 211-235pp.

Makdisi L, Blank A, Bryant W, Andrews C, Franco L, Parsonage J (2013) Facilitators and Barriers to Living with psychosis: an exploratory collaborative study of the perspectives of mental health service users. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(9), 418-426

Bryant W, Parsonage J, Tibbs A, Andrews C, Clark J, Franco L (2012) Meeting in the mist: key considerations in collaborative research partnerships with people with mental health issue. WORK 43(1), 23-31.

Other publications

Researching Psychosis Together (2012) Living with Psychosis. Report for Hillingdon Mind and CNWL Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7462

Areas of expertise

Membership of professional bodies

OSOS

RCOT

RCOT, CYPF Specialist section

Conferences

Bryant W, & Parsonage J (2015) Living with Psychosis. American Occupational Therapy Association Conference 2015, Nashville, Tennesse, USA.

Parsonage J, & Franco L, (2014) Researching Psychosis Together: Presentation on research findings to Jami, London, uk.

Parsonage J, Andrews C, Bryant W, Franco L, Clark J (2012) Researching Psychosis Together: changing lives through collaborative research. Refocus on Recovery conference, London, UK.

Bryant W, Andrews C, Franco L, Makdisi L, Parsonage J (2011) Living with Psychosis: collaborative research designed by mental health service users. CNWL NHS Foundation Trust Occupational Therapy Link Forum

Bryant W, Andrews C, Parsonage J, Clark J, Franco L, Makdisi L (2010) Meeting in the mist. College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Mental Health, 13th Annual Conference Birmingham, UK

Bryant W, Parsonage J, Craik C (2010) Knowledge transfer in action: from service user, academic and practitioner perspectives. College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference, Brighton, UK.

Bryant W, Andrews C, Franco L, Makdisi L, Parsonage J (2010) Living with Psychosis: collaborative research designed by mental health service users. INVOLVE 7th National Conference. Public involvement in research: innovation and impact. East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, UK

Parsonage J, Bryant W, Franco L, Andrews C, Clark J, Tibbs A, Butler J (2009) ‘Meeting in the Mist’: A reflection on the Work of The Researching Psychosis Together Group. CNWL NHS Foundation Trust annual Occupational Therapy conference.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Parsonage J & McDonald K (2015) 'Using the Model of Human Occupation to identify conceptual need within an EIS caseload'. College of Occupational Therapist conference, Brighton, UK.

Parsonage J & McDonald K, (2014) 'Using the Model of Human Occupation to identify conceptual need within an EIS caseload'. International Early Intervention Association Conference. Tokyo Japan.

Parsonage J, (2012) ‘Gaining Meaningful Occupation’ following first episode psychosis. International Early Intervention Association Conference. San Francisco, California, USA.

Other experience

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2000. THe following are the roles I held prior to taking up the ECT Studentship:-

Disability Student Advisor                                                                                              

Acting Team Leader for Early Intervetion Service

Occupational Therapist/ Care Coordinator  in an Early Intervention Service                                                                                                                                                            

Occupational Therapist in Mental Health Day Service 

Occupational Therapist in a psychiatric Rehabilitation Service 

 Basic Grade Occupational Therapist  (Mixed Rotation) including Care of the Elderly, Acute Psychiatric inpatient unit, and psychiatric rehabilitation.

Further information