WINTERFEST: Student Mental Health and Fieldwork Performance

ON DEMAND WEBINAR

Presented by Kelly A. Gelske, OTD, OTR/L and Nicole Stotz

1.0 Contact Hours

Description:

Up to 50% of graduate students report symptoms of depression, anxiety, and burnout during their clinical training, such as fieldwork (SenthilKumar et al., 2023). Research has also found that graduate education is linked to reduced sleep, low satisfaction with diet and exercise, worsened mental health, and increased stress (Smith & Brooks, 2015). Academic coursework may not be the only aspect impacting student mental health. A study by Thomure (2023) found that a significant majority of occupational therapy practitioner (OTP) students experienced stress during their fieldwork experiences.

Student mental health, confidence in one’s own abilities, and the pressure of needing to pass the fieldwork experience in order to complete their occupational therapy education all contribute to the stress experienced on fieldwork (Thomure, 2023). Furthering factors can include adjusting to a full-time schedule, high workload expectations, and the challenge of translating didactic knowledge into clinical reasoning and practice. Additionally, managing relationships with fieldwork educators and colleagues, along with the fieldwork educators’ supervision styles can contribute to student mental health (Thomure, 2023).

It is important to understand the factors impacting student mental health in order to support them through their fieldwork experiences. Several strategies have been shown to promote student mental health and support them during this time (Kendra-Cherry, 2024; Wang et al, 2023; Yadav, 2022). This presentation will discuss mental health statistics and contributing factors to poor mental health among students, along with strategies that can be used by both academic fieldwork coordinators and fieldwork educators to enable successful fieldwork experiences.

Objectives:

• Recognize statistics and trends in student mental health
• Describe the impact of mental health on OTP students’ fieldwork experiences
• Apply strategies to promote student mental health on fieldwork

Presenter bios:

Kelly Gelske is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program at the University of Toledo. She earned her Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the University of Toledo, where her scholarly project focused on caregiver self-efficacy for patient transfers. With over a decade of experience in school-based practice at Toledo Public Schools, she brings extensive expertise in special education services, multi-tiered systems of support, and fieldwork education. Her teaching spans foundational occupational therapy courses, models of practice, and capstone mentorship. Kelly is an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, serving as the Pediatric Special Interest Section representative for the Northwest District. She has presented on topics related to childhood development, trauma-informed care, and fieldwork education. Her clinical experience also includes skilled nursing, home health, and community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Dr. Nicole Stotz is an Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program at the University of Toledo, where she also serves as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. She holds a PhD in Health Education and an Occupational Therapy Doctorate, both from the University of Toledo. Her teaching focuses on professional development, fieldwork preparation, models of practice, and advocacy across the OTD curriculum. Dr. Stotz’s scholarly interests include fieldwork education, population-based practice for older adults, and interprofessional collaboration in areas such as cystic fibrosis care and autism spectrum disorder. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, presented extensively at state and national conferences, and serves as a mentor for doctoral capstone students. She is an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, where she has held leadership roles in fieldwork education and conference planning. Her clinical background includes skilled nursing, home health, and acute care practice.

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