This issue highlights the day-to-day work of occupational therapists and emphasizes the growing importance of collaboration with other professionals. During these complex times the needs of clients have grown significantly. It is therefore incumbent upon us as occupational therapists to improve our aptitude for communication with colleagues in a more clear and meaningful manner. This collaboration significantly enhances the quality of care we can offer to clients.
Included in this issue are articles written before the October 7th, and brings to the forefront topics that are even more relevant today. In the first article "Joining Hands – Knowledge and Attitudes of Oncology Nurses, of Occupational Therapy Role and Integration into Palliative Care" Neta Kislev, Yarden Usishkin Bibas , Michal Ben Atiya , Ariel Tagansky Arzi and Asnat Bar-Haim Erez, deal with collaboration between occupational therapy and nursing within palliative care. They concluded that there is a need to increase the visibility and advocacy of occupational therapists within oncology care to maximize cooperation with nursing teams.
In the second article, "Case Study: Awareness of Sensory Regulation as an Intervention Tool for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder" Noa Karasik and Naor Demeter present an unusual topic and describe a case of occupational therapy treatment forPremenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). They recommend increased awareness of sensory regulation and the acquisition of coping strategies to significantly improve function and quality of life.
In the third article "Evaluation of the Implementation of the UPSIDES project in Israel: Organizational and Peer Role Considerations for Promoting Optimal Implementation of Mental Health Peer Support in Rehabilitation Services in Israel" Inbar Adler Ben Dor and Galia Moran examine the implementation of the UPSIDES project (Using Peer Support In Developing Empowering Mental Health Services). This, as the title suggests is a program that aims at promoting integration of peers to provide mental healthservices in Israel. The study presents a fundamental change to the field of mental health. It opens up different directions of thinking for occupational therapists and emphasizes the importance of using peer support in rehabilitation and therapy in order to promote recovery.
In this issue, two columns discuss topics that society tends to silence or push aside as do we as a profession. In the "Point of View" section edited by Dr. Tamar Paley, Omri Gold asks us to deal with the issue of sexuality as part of a conversation on daily functioning – "Let's talk about it: sexuality as a meaningful occupation", and to rethink the place of sexuality in our professional thinking. In the section "From a Personal Viewpoint" edited by Ronit Livneh (former known as Dorot), "On breaking and repairing – the role of the community in preventing suicide", Gal Nissim-Emanuel invites us to talk about suicide. The column presents tools to foster dialogue for therapists, many of whom are anxious dealing with this topic. This presents an opportunity for reaching out and talking about the subject, based on knowledge related to managing the situation and enlistment of resources forsupport.
At the time printing this edition, we are still grieving over our friends, the occupational therapists, Keith Siegel and Carmel Gat, who were kidnapped from their home to Gaza and their fate is still unknown. We pray and yearn for the return of Keith and Carmel and all the hostages quickly and safely.
Pleasant reading and prayer for quiet days,
Dr. Sivan Regev, co-editor of the IJOT, sivreg@gmail.com
Dr. Gili Hoter Ishay, co-editor of the IJOT, ghertsman@gmail.com
