{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02591283863368669, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.967213114754099, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Emerging Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Practice in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Occupational therapy (OT) services within mental health (MH) in Saudi Arabia are not well documented. This qualitative study investigated the factors influencing MH-related OT practice in the KSA from psychiatrists' and occupational therapists' perspectives. Data collection was conducted with nine participants including occupational therapists and psychiatrists using semi-structured interviews. Four themes emerged: perceptions about MH-related OT practice; OT’s professional identity in Saudi Arabia; challenges toward implementing OT services in psychiatry; and the promotion of OT services within Saudi MH. The findings suggested that awareness about MH-related OT practice is essential to enhance the profession’s presence within MH field.