With the local elections coming up on 2nd May it is important as Occupational Therapists that we reflect on our role in this. Voting itself is an occupation, one that we have the freedom to democratically participate in, and could be seen as a duty for our profession to engage in. Health and social care is political, including the way it is funded, and the wider political agendas and policies that can inadvertently influence health outcomes and inequalities. Politics affects every aspect of the physical and social landscapes that we live in, and can provide both opportunities and barriers to engage in meaningful occupations.
Politics affects housing, including access to and quality of social housing, secure private tenancies, and opportunities to buy. All community OTs will be familiar with the problems of living in poor or temporary housing, and the frustrations as a clinician at not being able to do more to help in these situations. Damp, overcrowding, physical restrictions, noise and lack of access to cooking facilities (to name a few problems), can all lead to physical and mental health problems and inability to engage in essential and health promoting occupations.
Politics affects the physical environment outside of the home. This can be an enabler or a barrier for engaging in occupations, and can make the difference between whether we want to (or can) leave home or not. This includes the parks and green spaces that allow adults and children to play and relax. The design of roads to allow a choice of safe walking, cycling or wheeling, instead of car reliance, for physical and mental health. The ability for wheelchairs and mobility scooters to access public services and spaces. Politics also affects the wider contexts of engaging with this physical environment, such as the quality of the air, essential for our health.
Politics affects the education system, its choice of curriculum, its approach to diversity and inclusion from an early age, and it has the power to encourage all to achieve success in whatever occupations they choose to follow. Politics also affects the education system for adults, which has the potential to promote a culture of life long learning and curiosity, to allow us to question and change our occupations, and learn new ones.
There are many other aspects of our lives and occupations affected by politics, and as a profession we should be recognising the influence that this has on both our health and social care services but also the influence of and interconnectedness of all other aspects of society on our health and wellbeing.
Politicians are the leaders of our country, and their behaviour, individually and collectively, sets a precedent for what is acceptable professional and interpersonal behaviour. They are role models, and their attitudes and the way in which they communicate with each other sets the tone for how those in positions of authority treat others, such as the ability to listen and collaborate. This can trickle down into society.
I would argue that the action of researching the manifestos of political parties, and reflecting on how their policies impact on occupations, is a valuable form of CPD. We are a holistic profession and should recognise the weight of political decisions on the lives and health of our service users, friends, families and selves.
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