Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) are clinically prepared to treat patients with behavioral health conditions. Yet, many state and national policies defining qualified behavioral health providers do not include occupational therapy. In this Open Forum, the authors argue that OTPs should be considered qualified to work as behavioral health professionals, especially given the severe behavioral health workforce shortage in the United States. The authors summarize policy barriers preventing OTPs from working on behavioral health teams and the evidence to support their presence. They also propose a policy and advocacy agenda to include and recognize OTPs as members of the behavioral health workforce.
Keywords: Behavioral health; Mental illness; Occupational therapy; Psychiatric workforce shortage; Public policy issues.