Inside the world of mental health nursing

On World Mental Health Day, we aim to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and promote better mental health for all. But it's also an opportunity to shine a light on the people who have turned this mission into their career.  

Mental health nurses are at the frontline of mental health care. They are registered nurses who specialise in working with people who have mental health issues and are often a vital part of the healing journey. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 42.9 per cent of Australians aged 16-85 years have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. That means if you can look around and see 10 people right now, at least four of them have likely experienced anxiety, depression or one of the many other conditions that fall under the umbrella of mental health.  

Professor Timothy Wand and Grant Kinghorn are two experienced mental health nurses at the University of Wollongong who can provide insight into the dedicated nurses supporting the recovery of our most vulnerable.

  ^{Credit: Sydney Local Health District}

Where compassion meets care 

It was the humanity and skills of mental health nurses that drew Professor Wand to the field.  

"They were not only supportive of the patients but also encouraged me as a student," he recalls. 

Professor Wand witnessed the contrast between the task-oriented surgical settings and the personal, therapeutic approach of mental health nursing during his clinical placements in the 80s 

"I saw mental health nurses running groups and practising with highly skilled therapeutic care," he adds. 

For early career researcher and lecturer, Grant Kinghorn, the impact of his work in mental health became clear during his time as a care coordinator for a young teen. Kinghorn worked with him every day for roughly nine months to help regulate some of his intense emotions and develop healthier coping strategies. 

"Before entering our service, he had continuously been in and out of mental health hospitals for many years. After being discharged from us, he didn't enter another service for 18 months," Kinghorn explains. 

"When he left, he gave me a beautiful letter outlining how much he appreciated my help and for ‘never giving up on him’. I still have that letter after 15 years as a reminder of why I work in mental health," he says. 

The road ahead  

Many mental health nurses can offer stories similar to those of Professor Wand and Kinghorn. They motivate practitioners to remain in the field. 

However, it's not without its challenges, and both Wand and Kinghorn express concerns about the state of mental health care today. 

"For me, the greatest challenge is the overuse of drugs, diagnosis, and restrictive practices," Professor Wand explains. 

"There are effective alternatives to the mainstream approach to mental health that eschew a diagnosis and drug-centric perspective." 

Working in a busy emergency department during COVID-19, Professor Wand had to engage with people through N95 masks and goggles. 

"COVID-19 emphasised the importance of routine, exercise and human connection on mental health," Professor Wand says. 

Kinghorn says that while public perception of mental health has improved, the stigma associated with it and how it's represented in the community needs further change. 

"Suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged between 15-44, and yet it is still seen as a taboo subject to discuss and report on, which means that the stigma continues, which leads to many people not seeking help and the rate of suicide being extremely high," he says.  

Considering a career in mental health nursing?  

Professor Wand and Kinghorn encourage any registered nurse with compassion, resilience and a desire to continue learning to consider a career in mental health nursing. 

"I am comfortable being with people in distress and validating and supporting them," Professor Wand says.  

Kinghorn also recommends joining professional groups such as the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing to connect with other professionals and keep up to date with developments in the field. 

"We've seen the role of peer support workers, many of whom have lived experiences in mental health, grow a lot in healthcare services over the last few years. This has been a vital element in supporting people's recovery journey, and I think this will grow and evolve over the next decade," Kinghorn says.   

If you or anyone you know needs help: 

• UOW 24-hour Student Wellbeing Support Line on 1300 036 149 or text 0488 884 164
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• ReachOut at au.reachout.com
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978