About us
The International Organization of Physical Therapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH), is a specialty group with 36 member organizations from: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, the UK , USA and Yemen.
The IOPTMH proudly became a recognized specialty group of World Therapy at its 17th General Meeting in Amsterdam in 2011, a status that has been reconfirmed by World Physiotherapy in 2015, 2019, and 2023. Since that milestone, the organization has flourished under the guidance of motivated Executive Committees members, with dedicated Presidents Michel Probst, Liv Helvik Skjaerven, Daniel Catalán-Matamoros, and now Ellen Lake, each contributing to the growth, impact, and global recognition of physiotherapy in mental health.
The subgroup was developed from an international network of physiotherapists working in the field of psychiatry and mental health.
Physiotherapy in mental health
Physiotherapy in mental health is a specialty implemented in different health and mental health settings, psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. It is person-centered and provided for children, adolescents, adults and older people with mild, moderate and severe, acute and chronic mental health problems, in primary and community care, inpatients and outpatients.
Physiotherapists in mental health provide health promotion, preventive health care, treatment and rehabilitation for individuals, groups and in group therapeutic settings. Physiotherapists in mental health create a therapeutic relationship to provide assessment and services specifically related to the complexity of mental health within a supportive environment applying a model including biological and psycho-social aspects.
Physiotherapy in mental health aims to optimize wellbeing and empower the individual by promoting functional movement, movement awareness, physical activity and exercises, bringing together physical and mental aspects. Physiotherapists in mental health contribute to the multidisciplinary team and inter-professional care. Physiotherapy in mental health is based on the available scientific and best clinical evidence.
World Physiotherapy in Mental Health
The International Organization of Physical Therapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH) is a World Physiotherapy subgroup, including member organizations from all over the World. The IOPTMH was accepted as a World Physiotherapy subgroup at the 17th WCPT General Meeting, in Amsterdam, 2011 and reconfirmed in 2015 and 2019. The subgroup was developed from an international network of physical therapists working in the field of mental health
The IOPTMH wants to bring the contribution of physical therapists in mental health into the spotlight. It is important for society, for the patient, for the clinical practice as well as the relationship with other professionals to create and strengthen a culture of physiotherapy in mental health.
The IOPTMH organizes every second year an international conference. The purpose of these conferences is to stimulate a dialogue between colleagues, to promote the exchange of experiences and bring new ideas to improve society’s wellbeing and mental health.
Beside the official biannual IOPTMH conference, the IOPTMH aims to stimulate and support worldwide activities related with the promotion of physiotherapy in mental health. Workshops, round table discussions, policy documents and research projects are some examples of the activities of the IOPTMH in the field of mental health physiotherapy.
Objectives
The objectives according to the IOPTMHs' constitution are to:
Foster co-operation between physiotherapists practicing in mental health throughout the world.
Encourage scientific research and promote opportunities for the spread of knowledge of new developments in the field of mental health.
Encourage improved standards and consistency of practice in mental health care by physiotherapists.
Assist World Physiotherapy member organizations in the development of recognized sub-sections in mental health.
Advance practice by communication and exchange of information.
How to become a member
To become a member organization of IOPTMH, the national physiotherapy association must be a World Physiotherapy member organization. For further information, please contact us.
Interested colleague, stay connected
If you are not part of a national member organization but would like to be connected with IOPTMH, you can be included in our mailing list by filling this box with your email.
How IOPTMH is organized
The IOPTMH is governed by its Member Organizations.
Executive Committee
The daily functioning of the organization is conducted by the Members of the Executive Committee.
Ellen Lake
President
Norma Elisa Gálvez
Vice President
Ellen Anderson
Secretary
Jonna Jensen
Treasurer
Davy Vancampfort
Member
The Executive Committee is greatly supported by the following Committees.
Committee for Education and Clinical Practice
Elisa Galvez Olvera
Mexico
Co-Chairperson
Ellen Anderson
USA
Co-Chairperson
Linda Slootweg
Netherlands
Member
Jonna Jensen
Denmark
Member
Laura Hemmings
United Kingdom
Member
Reetta Kuntonen Petajaniem
Finland
Member
Anthony Kwok
Hong Kong
Member
Tine Van Damme
Belgium
Member
Denis Montoya
Costa Rica
Member
Steeven Jara
Ecuador
Member
Mairi Tamm
Estonia
Member
Tracey Pons
New Zealand
Member
Cristina Bravo
Spain
Member
Committee for Research
Davy Vancampfort
Belgium
Chairperson
Ryan L. McGrath
Australia
Member
Sandy Lord
South Africa
Member
Anna I. Rajala
Finland
Member
Jelizaveta Ivascenko
Latvia
Member
Anna Szczegielniak
Poland
Member
Justin Glaser
Germany
Member
Peter Fiala
Austria
Member
Committee for Communication & Institutional Relations
Ellen Lake
Australia
Chairperson
Stavros Stathopoulos
Greece
Member
Anna Szczegielniak
Poland
Member
