Jessica Pulis

Can you tell us about your career as an occupational therapist and senior mental health clinician, Jessica? 

I completed a Bachelor’s of Occupational Therapy. Upon graduating, I completed work in vocational rehabilitation and acute hospital settings and decided it was time for a change and commenced my first mental health role around a year after graduating. My first mental health role was in an Early Psychosis Team working with young people aged 15 to 25 experiencing first episodes of psychosis. 

I then worked in a mental health team specialising in adults with complex mental health needs requiring intensive rehabilitation, coordination and support. My role focused on restoring functioning in people who had complex psychosocial and mental health needs. Some of the interventions included cognitive assessments and cognitive rehabilitation using a mixture of remedial and compensatory approaches, coordinating additional NDIS supports and working with the individual’s support network to promote longer-term recovery. Another important intervention is sensory needs assessments, as this is a huge part of the role of the Occupational Therapist in mental health services. We would often see these people between 2-3 times per week. 

After two years, I transitioned into the acute mental health space, working with the Acute Care Team (ACT). The ACT team is responsible for managing people who are presenting in crisis and directing them to the best support. It is a fast-paced role that involves working with people in significant distress. 

I currently work across two roles based in acute care, which is my passion. I work in the Mental Health Co-Responder Team, which is a team that partners with a Senior Paramedic and attends triple zero calls for mental health-related issues. The role aims to provide timely access to mental health supports with an effort to redivert people needing to attend emergency departments. My second role is working within a Crisis Support Space, which aims to provide an alternative space to the emergency department for people to attend when they are in distress. The space is wonderful because it is peer-led, meaning people with lived experience of mental illness use their own recovery journey to provide hope and assist with regulation. 

I am also currently completing my Masters in Mental Health, which I feel is great to further my study and understanding of mental illness.

What made you choose a career in the mental health sector? 

I love that every day is different. Compared to physical injuries, there are so many more variables to consider with regard to treatment options. I love that it can be challenging, not one size fits all, and ultimately, I love working with a diverse group of people. Many of the roles in mental health are multi-disciplinary, meaning we work very closely with nurses, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists, and there are so many learning opportunities from working so closely with all these skill sets.

Jessica Pulis

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

I love working in acute mental health fields. I often work with people when they are at their most vulnerable and experiencing crisis. I love being able to work with a person to assist them to regulate and seeing their presentation change as a result from your intervention. I also like that we are often the first point of contact for many people on their mental health journey and being able to make that a positive experience for someone is a pleasure.

What do you find most challenging about your role?

At times, we are forced to make decisions to implement treatment when a person does not have capacity to make their decisions. Dealing with emotive responses as a response to this can be challenging but it is important to ensure you keep up with regular supervision sessions and utilise debriefing to offer reflective opportunities.

Tell us about a day in your working life.

My shifts go from 1 pm to 11 pm. I arrive at the ambulance station and check in with the paramedic that I will be completing my shift with. Every day is different, as we don’t know what triple zero calls will come through. When we get a triple zero call, we review the details and travel to the person in distress. We complete a mental health assessment and determine a plan of action. We usually see around four to five people per shift, so it can be very fast-paced.

What are three misconceptions you think that people have about working in the mental health sector?

I think many people can be scared of working in mental health because of the stigma associated with it, but most people who experience mental illness are lovely and often experience significant shame about seeking help. I think the most recent stats I read about mental health were that 1 in 4 people experience mental illness, so the chances are you know someone who has or has had a mental illness.

What advice would you give to people interested in working in mental health?

There are so many different careers to get into mental health other than the usual Psychologist and Psychiatrist that people automatically assume. I would have a look at the varying career types and ask lots of questions about types of study that they have completed. Mental health is always an ever-changing field with new and emerging evidence and reforms, so it’s always recommended to keep up to date with professional development opportunities.