Mental health nursing: is Rome burning?

Abstract

Background/Aims The recent period of financial austerity, between 2010 and 2020, adversely impacted mental health service provision and raised fundamental questions for mental health nurses. This article aims to identify and discuss present areas of professional concern to mental health nurses in the UK. Methods The authors invited submissions from 12 experienced mental health nurses regarding the contemporary circumstances and likely future direction of mental health nursing. Each manuscript was reviewed, and recurrent themes emerged around which an editorial discussion was framed. Findings Many issues around service provision have persisted and/or deteriorated over time. The impacts on mental health nursing continue to be largely related to the type of educational preparation required, the size of the workforce and the research activity deemed necessary to strengthen the evidence base of clinical practice. Conclusions Mental health nursing faces several challenging issues to address if it is to survive and then to establish the unique professional identity it seeks.