OccHealth Exercise Physiologists Improve Mental Health & Upgrade Employment Through RAWI

The client was referred to Altius Group’s Recovery and Wellness Initiative (RAWI) in March 2019, diagnosed with generalised anxiety with adjustment disorder after a workplace incident in 2017. She had been job detached and unable to complete normal activities of daily living since this time.

RAWI Goals / Challenges

• Addressing psychosocial barriers
• Increasing motivation, confidence and participation in activities of daily living
• Improving fitness through building a regular physical activity routine and re-engaging within the community.

The client lacked motivation and became severely deconditioned as a result of isolation and very minimal physical activity. When treatment commenced, the client was unable to walk more than 5 minutes and very rarely left the house. For various reasons associated with her condition, she reported an inability to cook, clean, drive or care for her 2 year old daughter, placing strain on her family life.

How the RAWI Helped

RAWI provided support and encouragement to assist with motivation and gradually increasing activity levels. Sessions were supervised in the local community, at a park or café to address isolation and provide graded exposure back into the community. A first step was to gradually build up her low walking tolerance.

Education was provided on the importance of regular activity and improving strength and fitness to participate in domestic tasks and social engagements. Strategies around pacing were implemented to facilitate a graded and sustainable recommencement of domestic tasks. A home exercise regime was established to improve strength and promote the development of routine, which the client reported to be consistent with.

Results of RAWI

• Work capacity was upgraded from nil capacity for employment to 18 hrs/week, due to her participation in RAWI.
• PSEQ Self-Efficacy scores increased from 3 indicating no confidence to 51 indicating very high levels of confidence.
• WHO-5 wellness questionnaire significantly improved from 4 to 84 indicating very good perceived quality of life.
• Initially the client was socially isolated, not wanting to leave the house. She now reports to have increased independent community engagement to approximately 5 days per week, where she goes out with her husband and daughter, attending family events and participating in daily tasks such as grocery shopping. She is now able to complete domestic tasks such as cooking and cleaning as well as independently caring for her daughter while her husband is at work.
• The client is now able to drive, which further facilitates her independence.
• Improvements in sleep and mood have also been reported.

Our purpose is to enable people to realise their health potential. We’re proud to bring this example of our purpose in action and to share the real tangible impact of our work each day on people, organisations and communities.

For further information on the RAWI program.