Mental Health Nursing

Nurses from other fields, primarily those working with patients that suffer from physical illness, have negative perceptions on mental health nurses, viewing it as less desirable, requiring little knowledge and giving no opportunity for professional progression. (Ng, et al. 2010) This is because mental health problems are harder to portray and understand than physical health problems, along with the fact it is easier to sympathise with someone who has a visible illness. (Angermeyer & Schulze. 2003) Students looking to move into a mental health nursing career are frequently recommended to study a surgical or medical specialty initially to gain necessary nursing skills before moving into mental health, this gives the impression mental health skills are not as much a necessity as knowledge in physical procedures when beginning a nursing career. (Ng, et al. 2010) This further backs up the initial point that mental health nursing doesn’t allow for personal progression as it portrays the skill alone isn’t enough to pursue a true nursing profession.
Along with mental health nursing viewed as less significant, stigma against them can arise from association
with the patients. (Duncan et al., 2010) When someone is perceived inaccurately as having a magnified negative aspect, stigma is formed resulting in a decline in their value, which contributes to the view that mental health nursing isn’t as necessary as other practices. (DeFleur & Goffman, 1964) It was also calculated that the lower status has resulted in stigma by association, also known as courtesy stigma. (Ross & Goldner, 2009). Courtesy stigmatization towards them is due to their relationship with mental health patients, and this threatens the nurse’s status as mental illness has been acknowledged as contagious. (Ben Natan, Drori and Hochman, 2015). As mental health patients have been described as unpredictable and dangerous, this has led to a perception of nurses as unskilled and ineffective. (Sercu, Ayala and Bracke, 2015) The stigma by association also attached negative attributes to them when compared to other fields, mental health nurses were less likely to be described as respected, skilled and dynamic. (Ross & Goldner, 2009)
There are a range of different views on Mental Health nurses, for obvious reasons.
Stereotyping and Prejudice are a major factor in the negative perception of mental health. This is human nature and fear of the unknown and the media can have a huge impact on our perception and this belief has been around for a while. The perceptions of those without experience in mental health with negative perceptions can be put down to ignorance or lack of education, as with the other nurses. In my opinion, positive mental health is the key to positive physical health and living a fulfilling life. We need to become more aware of the causes, impacts and effects of mental health issues and return to natural, holistic diets, lifestyles and medicines incorporating techniques used for thousands of years that have been forgotten in the
west.