A survey of recruitment and retention issues for occupational therapists working clinically in mental health

Background: Mental health services Australia-wide have difficulty recruiting and retaining clinical occupational therapists. Methods: A survey of occupational therapists to identify factors that could influence their retention or loss from clinical mental health practice was undertaken. Results: Typically, respondents were female, aged 30 years or younger, working full-time at a grade 2 or 3 level, and had worked entirely in mental health. The main positive aspects that respondents identified about their positions were the 'social/emotional environment', 'aspects/nature of their roles', and 'using occupational therapy skills'. The main position constraints were 'insufficient time/workload' and 'insufficient use of occupational therapy skills/generic nature of work'. Conclusions: Recruitment and retention strategies are required to retain occupational therapists in clinical mental health positions.