Mental Health Nursing
Find information resources about mental health nursing including key resources, books, and journal articles. This guide is for RCN members including nursing students, nursing support workers, and registered nurses.
Last updated:
11/06/2026
RCN Publications
Royal College of Nursing (2023) Five years on: are we achieving parity between physical and mental health? The experiences of UK nursing staff: survey report. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2024) Literature review: scoping selected literature on the role of the mental health nurse in improving the physical health care of clients diagnosed with severe mental illness. London: RCN.
Clinical resources on RCN Learn
Reviews and reports
Please check that resources are applicable for your country.
The Cochrane Library contains high quality independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making. This includes the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
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Systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library. Topics include mental health.
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An example of a Cochrane Library search
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Other resources and guidance
Please check that resources are applicable for your country.
Department of Health and Social Care (2024) Improving the mental health of babies, children and young people.
NHS Education for Scotland: Mental health, learning disabilities and dementia (NMAHP) resources.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2019) 'SIGN mental health guidelines (2006-2019)'. Edinburgh: SIGN.
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Guidelines 157, 145 and 131 cover mental health and behavioural conditions.
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Books on Prescription
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A reading list of expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams. The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals, and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.
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Legislation and statutory guidance
Please check that resources are applicable for your country.
Department of Health and Social Care (2021) Reforming the Mental Health Act: consultation outcome.
Department of Health and Social Care (2017) Code of practice: Mental Health Act 1983. Norwich: HMSO.
Parliament (1983) Mental Health Act 1983. London: HMSO.
Parliament (2005) Mental Capacity Act 2005. London: HMSO.
Parliament (2018) Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018. c. 27. London: HMSO.
Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) (1986) The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order. Belfast: HMSO.
Scottish Executive (2003) Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act. Edinburgh: HMSO.
Welsh Government (2016) Mental Health Act 1983: code of practice. Cardiff: Llywodraeth Cymru.
National strategies
NHS England (2025) 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future
NHS England and NHS Improvement (2020) Advancing mental health equalities strategy.
Scottish Government (2017) Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027. Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.
Department of Health (Northern Ireland) (2020) Mental Health Action Plan. Belfast: Department of Health.
Welsh Government (2012) Together for mental health: a strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
We would like to thank the RCN Mental Health member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.
Books
Barber P, Brown R and Martin D (2023) Mental health law in England and Wales: a guide for mental health professionals. 5th edn. London: Learning Matters.
Brathwaite B (ed.) (2023) Diversity and cultural awareness in nursing practice. 2nd edn. London: Sage.
Callaghan P and Gamble C (2015) Oxford handbook of mental health nursing. 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chadwick A and Murphy N (2021) Mental health: a non-specialist introduction for nursing and health care. Banbury: Lantern.
Chambers M (2017) Psychiatric and mental health nursing: the craft of caring. 3rd edn. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Clifton A, Hemingway S, Felton A and Stacey G (eds.) (2018) Fundamentals of mental health nursing: an essential guide for nursing and healthcare students. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.
Higgins A, Kikki N, Kristofersson G K (2022) Advanced practice in mental health nursing : a European perspective. Cham, Swizterland : Springer.
Majors, R, Carberry, K, & Ransaw, TS (eds.) (2020) The international handbook of black community mental health. Bingley: Emerald Publishing.
McNaught E, Treasure J, Griffiths J (2023) Eating disorders: the basics. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group.
Mutsatsa S (2021) Mental health medicines management for nurses. 3rd edn. London: Learning Matters.
Procter N G, Wilson R L, Hamer H P, McGarry D and Loughhead M (eds.) (2022) Mental health: a person-centred approach. 3rd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Saunders J (2024) Oxford handbook of addiction medicine. 3rd edn. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
Steinberg P I (2022) Applying psychoanalytic thought to contemporary mental health practice. New York: Routledge.
Thornicroft G, Drake R, Gureeje O, Mueser KT, Szmukler G (2025) Oxford textbook of community mental health.
Trenoweth S (2022) Understanding mental health practice for adult nursing students. London: Learning Matters.
Williams R, Kemp V, Porter K M, Healing T, Drury J (2024) Major incidents, pandemics and mental health: the psychosocial aspects of health emergencies, incidents, disasters and disease outbreaks. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.
Journal articles
Use these links to see details of journal articles on each topic.
Journals
Journal titles of interest for mental health. Use these links to see details of availability.
Theses
The Annie Altschul Collection
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A collection of doctoral level theses, all of which have been completed by mental health nurses. The RCN Library and Museum has collaborated with the RCN Mental Health Forum and Mental Health Nurse Academics UK to bring together this selection. View the collection or contribute your thesis.
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The Mental Elf
The Mental Elf: "No bias, no misinformation, no spin, just what you need."
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This website aims to find you just what you need to keep up-to-date with all of the important and reliable mental health research and guidance. It includes short summaries that highlight evidence-based publications relevant to mental health practice in the UK and further afield.
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Video
RCN Mental Health Forum and RCN Libraries (2021) Maybe I don’t belong here: with David Harewood.
RCN Podcasts
Past Caring: Deaf mental health nursing -
Frances explores D/deaf nursing and mental health care.
Listen to Podcast (Soundcloud)
Past Caring: Mental Health
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Frances explores perspectives of mental health, past and present.
Listen to Podcast (Soundcloud)
Reading Well
Reading Well for mental health
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These books provide helpful information and step-by-step self-help techniques for managing a variety of common mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. They are endorsed by health professionals.
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Lived experience
Filer, N (2019) The heartland: finding and losing schizophrenia. London: Faber & Faber.
Harewood D (2021) Maybe I don't belong here: a memoir of race, identity, breakdown and recovery. London: Bluebird.
Haig M (2015) Reasons to stay alive. Edinburgh: Canongate Books.
Larcombe J R (2014) Tails I lose: the compulsive gambler who lost his shirt for good. Chicago: Lion Hudson.
Mason P T and Kreger R (2020) Stop walking on eggshells: taking your life back when someone you care about has borderline personality disorder. 3rd edn. Oakland: New Harbinger.
Withey J, Sagan O and Couser G T (eds.) (2017) The recovery letters: addressed to people experiencing depression. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Nursing History Collection
Barker P J R F, Campbell P and Davidson B (1999) From the ashes of experience: reflections on madness, survival and growth. London: Whurr.
Nolan P (1993) A history of mental health nursing. London: Chapman & Hall.
McCrae N (2016) The story of nursing in British mental hospitals: echoes from the corridors. Abingdon: Routledge.
Special Collections
Medico-Psychological Association (1893) Handbook for attendants on the insane. 2nd edn. London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox.
Beardshaw V (1981) Conscientious objectors at work: mental hospital nurses : a case study. London: Social Audit.
Rippere V and Williams R (1985) Wounded healers: mental health workers’ experiences of depression. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
Historical Journals
Nursing Record/British Journal of Nursing (1888-1956)
Trained Attendant (1895) ‘Association of asylum workers [Letter to the Editor]’, The Nursing Record & Hospital World, 31 August, pp. 138–139
Ministry of Health (1944) War and mental health: few cases of ‘Blitz’ neurosis, The British Journal of Nursing, 92(December), p. 139.
Board of Control (1946) The Mental Health Service in war time. 1945 admissions highest on record: record number of discharges, The British Journal of Nursing, 94(December), p. 140.
Anonymous (1955) From madhouse to mental hospital, The British Journal of Nursing, (July).
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Andrew Temple-Mabe
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Museum
Page last updated - 11/06/2026
