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Mental Health Nursing

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Mental Health Nursing

“Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” (WHO, 2014, Mental health: a state of well-being). Use this guide to find information resources about mental health including books, reports and journal articles.

Last updated: 02/06/2018

RCN Publications

Royal College of Nursing (2017) Child and adolescent mental health. London: RCN.

Royal College of Nursing (2017) Child and adolescent mental health, London: RCN.

Royal College of Nursing (2014) Mental health in children and young people: an RCN toolkit for nurses who are not mental health specialists, London: RCN. Royal College of Nursing (2014) Mental health in children and young people: an RCN toolkit for nurses who are not mental health specialists, London: RCN.
Provision of mental health care for adults who have a learning disability Royal College of Nursing (2014) Provision of mental health care for adults who have a learning disability, London: RCN.
Frontline First Turning back the clock?: RCN report on mental health services in the UK Royal College of Nursing (2014) Turning back the clock? RCN report on mental health services in the UK, London: RCN.

Legislation and statutory guidance

Please check that resources are applicable for your country.

Department of Health (2015) Mental Health Act 1983: code of practice. Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 118 of the Mental Health Act 1983, Department of Health, Norwich: Stationery Office.
Parliament (1983) Mental Health Act, London: HMSO.
Parliament (2005) Mental Capacity Act, London: Stationery Office.
Department of Health and Social Services (1986) The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order, Edinburgh: HMSO.
Scottish Executive (2000) Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act, Edinburgh: Stationery Office.
Scottish Executive (2003) Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act, Edinburgh: Stationery Office.
The Scottish Government (2012) Mental Health Strategy for Scotland, Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.
Welsh Government (2016) The Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice for Wales, Cardiff: Llywodraeth Cymru.
Welsh Government (2012) Together for mental health: a strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Reviews and reports

Please check that resources are applicable for your country.

Health Education England (2017) Stepping forward to 2020/21: The mental health workforce plan for England, HEE: London.

National Institute for Health Research (2018) Forward Thinking - NIHR research on support for people with severe mental illness. NIHR: Southampton

Department of Health (2006) From values to action: the Chief Nursing Officer's review of mental health nursing, London: DH.
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2007) Bamford review of mental health and learning disability, Belfast: DH.
Scottish Executive (2006) Rights, relationships and recovery: the report of the national review of mental health nursing in Scotland, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.

Other resources and guidance

Please check that resources are applicable for your country.

NHS Evidence guidance search: Mental health.
NHS Education for Scotland (2014) Mental health and learning disabilities resources, Edinburgh: NHS Education for Scotland.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2016) SIGN mental health guidelines (2001-2016), Edinburgh: SIGN.
  • Guidelines 145, 131, 114 and 112 cover mental health and behavioural conditions.
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The Cochrane Library: Mental health.
  • Systematic reviews related to Mental Health Nursing
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Books on Prescription
  • 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.
    View page
We would like to thank the RCN Mental Health member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Books

Townsend M (2011) Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing: concepts of care in evidence-based practice, Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.

Townsend M (2011) Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing: concepts of care in evidence-based practice, Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.

Barber P, Brown R and Martin D (2012) Mental health law in England and Wales: a guide for mental health professionals, London: Learning Matters. Barber P, Brown R and Martin D (2012) Mental health law in England and Wales: a guide for mental health professionals, London: Learning Matters.
Hulatt I (2014) Mental health policy for nurses, London: SAGE. Hulatt I (2014) Mental health policy for nurses, London: SAGE.
Mucic D & Hilty D (eds) (2015) e-Mental Health, Cham: Springer International Publishing. Mucic D & Hilty D (eds) (2015) e-Mental Health, Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Murphy R (2013) Mental health law in nursing, London: SAGE. Murphy R (2013) Mental health law in nursing, London: SAGE.
Roberts D (2013) Psychosocial nursing care: a guide to nursing the whole person, Maidenhead: Open University Press. Roberts D (2013) Psychosocial nursing care: a guide to nursing the whole person, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Norman I (2013) The art and science of mental health nursing: principles and practice, Maidenhead: Open University Press. Norman I (2013) The art and science of mental health nursing: principles and practice, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Patel V (2014) Global mental health: principles and practice, Oxford: Oxford University Press Patel V (2014) Global mental health: principles and practice, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Stickley T (2014) Theories for mental health nursing: a guide for practice, London: SAGE. Stickley T (2014) Theories for mental health nursing: a guide for practice, London: SAGE.
Townsend M (2011) Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing: concepts of care in evidence-based practice, Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis. Townsend M (2014) Psychiatric nursing: assessment, care plans, and medications, Philadelphia, PA: F A Davis.
Walker S (2015) Psychosocial interventions in mental health nursing, London: Learning Matters. Walker S (2015) Psychosocial interventions in mental health nursing, London: Learning Matters.
Wrycraft N (2015) Assessment and care planning in mental health nursing, Maidenhead: Open University Press. Wrycraft N (2015) Assessment and care planning in mental health nursing, Maidenhead: Open 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 of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Journal titles of interest for mental health. Use these links to see details of availability.

The Mental Elf

The Mental Elf: "No bias, no misinformation, no spin, just what you need."
  • 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.
    View page

Reading Well - Books on Prescription

Reading Well: Books on Prescription for common mental health conditions.
  • 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.
    View page

Events and Exhibitions

Online materials from the Royal College of Nursing’s Out of the Asylum: the history of mental health nursing exhibition (displayed from October 2015 - March 2016).
  • This timeline shows how mental health nursing has evolved through the years, organised by themes including “Environment”, “Treatment”, “Education” and “Legislation”.
    RCN: History of mental health nursing

Nursing History Collection

Barker P (1999) From the ashes of experience: reflections on madness, survival and growth, Maidenhead: Open University Press. Barker P (1999) From the ashes of experience: reflections on madness, survival and growth, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Norman I (2013) The art and science of mental health nursing: principles and practice, Maidenhead: Open University Press. 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 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, London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox.
Beardshaw V (1981) Conscientious objectors at work: mental hospital nurses, a case study, London: Social Audit.
Rippere V (1985) Wounded healers: mental health workers Rippere V (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 of “The Nursing Record”, 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, pp.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, pp140.
(No author) (1955) From madhouse to mental hospital, The British Journal of Nursing, July, Pp. 77.

This subject guide relates to:

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Mental Health Forum
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Phil Segall

Author of this guide

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