Mental health nursing can mean supporting patients at some of the most difficult points of their lives – it’s a huge challenge but also an incredible honour to be there for someone in their darkest times.

For me, what I love about being a mental health nurse is using my professional curiosity to get to the bottom of people’s issues so we can get them the treatment and support they need. It’s about really getting to know your patients, finding out everything about them and their life experiences and then planning interventions to support them – and doing all this in partnership with the patient.

It's an incredible profession and, on this Mental Health Nurses’ Day, the RCN’s Mental Health Forum and I want to say a big thank you to all our colleagues. While we often face challenges in our roles that seem insurmountable, it’s so important for us all to remember the difference we are making to the lives of our patients.

The state of mental health nursing: the challenges and opportunities

While it’s an incredible profession, the past year has presented ongoing challenges for mental health nursing in the UK. The mental health sector has experienced growing staffing shortages, with a significant gap in the number of qualified nurses available to meet the rising demand for services.

Many mental health nurses have reported feeling overwhelmed due to the increased pressure, longer hours, and the emotional toll of their work. Nurses in the mental health field are at a high risk of burnout due to emotional strain. Many changes are needed to address the mental health crisis amongst nurses, including providing access to mental health support programmes, counselling, and work-life balance strategies.

We must raise awareness of these issues – nothing will change if we don’t. But it’s also important that we promote why mental health nursing is a brilliant career. By taking opportunities now to demonstrate the profound effect that we have on the lives of our patients, we will increase the opportunities to advance our profession for the future.

Over the last year, it’s also been positive to see how the use of technology is emerging in mental health nursing. Telehealth services have proven effective in expanding access to mental health care, especially in rural or underserved areas. Artificial intelligence is also slowly being integrated into our every day lives, and health care is no exception. The potential of utilising mental health apps that assist in tracking symptoms, managing stress, or providing therapeutic interventions is a change we may see implemented into practice in the coming years.

Even with the current challenges faced by mental health nurses, there are exciting opportunities to expand and develop our diverse field of practice. These opportunities, when fully explored and implemented, could help transform the mental health nursing profession, improving the quality of care provided and the professional lives of nurses.

Get involved  

If you work in mental health nursing, then find out more about joining the RCN’s Mental Health Forum.