Mental health nursing is an extremely diverse role with specialities ranging from working with children to the older generation. The work involves helping individuals to recover from their illness or come to terms with it in order to lead positive and independent lives.
A mental health nurse has to be sympathetic and non-judgemental. You will need to be able to work collaboratively with people, gain their trust and be adept at managing emotional situations.
Mental health nurses work with people who are experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties. For some people, mental illness can be triggered by an event such as divorce, the death of someone close, birth, alcohol and drug abuse in personal circumstances, including at work.
Much of mental health nurse’s work involves promoting good mental wellbeing, working with people who are experiencing severe mental health problems and supporting recovery for those who have experienced mental health difficulties. Trained about the legal context of the work, mental health nurses are able to identify whether and when someone may be at risk of harming themselves or someone else.
To find out more about mental health nursing check out our resources, including:
Jonathan’s video about how he became a Nurse and what it’s been like during the pandemic
Richard’s blog where he talks about what a typical day can look like