Authors (including presenting author) :
Yip KY
Affiliation :
Department of Occupational Therapy, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
Under pandemic situation, most of the community vocational services and hospital workshop based training are suspended. With advanced technology, the vocational rehabilitation is transformed into a more accessible ward based program to allow early vocational intervention during in-patient treatment.
The youth with mental illness experiences challenges towards successful employment as result of low self-esteem and limited successful working experience. A ward based Occupational Therapy Vocational Program “DigitAl Youth (DAY)” Program is specially introduced to the young psychiatric patients. It aims to provide a successful work experience on digitalization, develop competences on quality digital work and prepare for the application of digital skills and knowledge to fulfill the recent job market need.
Objectives :
This paper aims at exploring the influence of “DigitAl Youth (DAY)” Program on the vocational competences of young psychiatric patients.
Methodology :
The vocational program was a 4 sessions ward based program with 2 sessions per week. The digital design softwares were introduced and demonstrated on in utilisation. Calendar project was completed by patients with their own digital designs in ward.
Patient with early onset psychosis and aged from 18-35 were invited to join from Oct to Dec 2021. The influence on vocational competency was examined through behavioural observation and a semi-structured interview with patient on the level of self-esteem, work competency, work motivation and work-related social skill after completion of 4 sessions.
Result & Outcome :
From Oct to Dec, a total of 6 young psychiatric patients attended the program. Findings are summarized as follow: i) Enhanced work competency: Acquired basic skill and knowledge in producing quality digital work. ii) Improved self-esteem: Patients reported improved self-esteem after having successful experience of making a real product as souvenir to loved one. iii) Increased motivation: Patients showed full attendance during the whole program and showed increased interest on digital work field with self-initiated discussion after each session. iv) Improved work-related social skill: Positive interaction among the peers was seen and patients learned to report the working progress and seek help in difficult situations. Conclusion: The program demonstrated the benefit of using advanced technology in helping patient to gain successful experience with advanced technology. In the coming future, a greater variety of digital projects, including animations and graphics can be manufactured. A platform in promoting the products and showing the talent of psychiatric patient can be formed with products available for sale.
