A profession confined: the identity crisis of mental health nursing

Mental health nursing is a profession which is confined both between disciplines, and within nursing itself. Mental health care is often set up around psychiatrist-led diagnoses and medically-focused treatments such as medication, which can be compulsory. Meanwhile, the curiosity around the human mind and its functions is considered the realm of psychologists. Mental health nursing emphasises the importance of the therapeutic relationship, yet an autonomous role is not always clear in between these other professions. Furthermore, nurse trainings are too often generic where they should be bespoke, particularly given the ethical dilemmas and human rights issues involved in mental health care. Mental health nurses need both a clear identity and an appropriate preparation that expands their perspective. At present, I feel claustrophobic in my confined profession and have the fear that we may lose what identity we have.