Mental Health Nursing
Coping with life experiences is easier said than done. It is usually assumed that it is each individual's aim/desire in life to attain a certain degree of independence from their parents, but losing that loving, caring comfort can be quite a shock from which some individuals' fail to recover.
Children are usually part of a family unit, who must, sometimes by law, protect and defend their offspring, promote social integration and acceptance, facilitate intellectual development, foster a spirit of enquiry and enable natures maturation processes to occur at specific times in life.
Stress, with so many definitions/interpretations, presents itself in a myriad ways, often slowly, subtly causing increasing levels of distress and manifesting itself to different degrees.
Stress may be due to one or more causes, such as:- parental disinterest or neglect, family disunity, peer group rejection, bullying, failure to succeed academically, financially, emotionally or socially, inability to create or maintain interpersonal relationships with members of own or opposite gender, different or same age group(s).
An individual may experience disturbances of sleeping, eating, thinking, concentrating, walking, talking, relaxing, socialising or performing aspects of self care such as washing, dressing or toileting.
Trends in modern living, such as retaining peer group support, striving to succeed/advance at work experimenting with different substances (some legal, some not), living beyond personal abilities or financial resources or wishing not to be refused entry to "status" groups or organisations, has increased pressures for many members of society. Effects of ageing and loss of motivation have also been identified as causes of mental deterioration. Pressure for whatever reason, may result in loss of self esteem and a downwards spiral may occur.
Rarely is loss of self esteem contained within an individual. Parents, family, loved ones, friends, colleagues and carers experience discomfort, loss of belonging / being needed and are often rebuffed, rejected or neglected. An individual may not realise or may not wish to acknowledge they are experiencing stress or mental differences / deterioration / impairment, so can not understand why people speak or behave differently towards them. A vicious circle of self depreciation, rejection of and by others results, with increasing discomfort or distress. Loving / caring may be replaced by embarrassment, repulsion or rejection, increasing the pressures on the individual affected.
Mental Health Nurses play a vital part in assisting people to recognise the causes of the possible effects of stress, identify coping strategies, clarify personal aspirations / goals, plan daily activities which can restore self pride and esteem, reduce hostility of and to others, assess own abilities 'accept changes in lifestyles, adjust to changing employment or unemployment and maintain some degree of personal motivation to regain as much independence as possible.
Nursing care may be delivered on a one to one basis, in small client groups or mixed client and carer groups. Mental Health Nurses play a key role in the Primary Health Care Team and may offer support, guidance or advice within a Community Health Centre, Community Day Care Facility, client's own home or within residential settings within the local community or local hospital. Working as a valued member of the multidisciplinary team, Mental Health Nurses may liase with members of many other professions, so that care is based on a thorough assessment, planned to facilitate not dominate the clients restoration towards independence (as far as possible/realistic) delivered in a non judgmental style and evaluated from many perspectives.
Mental Health Nurses also play an important role in health education and promotion, seeking the general public to recognise and appreciate the beneficial and harmful effects of stress. A stimulus to motivate oneself, may actually be a harmful stressor to another. Appreciating individual differences and supporting individual ways of coping are essential if we are to live as a harmonious society.
Reducing dependence on substances such as alcohol, food, chemicals or tobacco, which may have provided an initial boost in self esteem, but can have a debilitating effect on the mind, body, finances and behaviour of some members of society is vital if social tolerance and integration are to be realised and maintained.
Most programmes for Mental Health Nursing are now offered by Universities, which enables recruits to attain either a Diploma of Higher education or Degree as well as securing entry to the Professions register of Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors.
Programmes are usually of three years duration, with 45 weeks per year planned activity / attendance, constructed with two distinct parts(halves). The first part/half - referred to as a Common Foundation Programme, concentrates on the acquisition of knowledge, with some exposures to the four distinct client groups - Adults, Children, individuals with Mental Health problems and individuals with Learning Disabilities.
The second part/half of the programme is client specific with the emphasis on the application of knowledge and the enhancement of skills and confidence/competence.
Individuals with a mature outlook, commitment, compassion and drive should obtain further information from the relevant organisation.
For Diploma programmes, applicants MUST possess the entry criteria (5 GCSE at grades C or above equivalent) before application can be processed. For Degree programmes, applicants possessing or studying for Higher education qualifications of 'A' levels, or other post schooling qualifications (BTEC, GNVQ, Access to Higher education) are considered and a conditional offer to a programme may be made.
Further information
Universities & Colleges Admissions Service: www.ucas.com/
The Author: Norman Long Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, De Montfort University Leicester
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