Foundations of Mental Health and Illness
This section introduces the fundamental concepts of mental ill health, providing an overview of the spectrum of mental health conditions. Students will explore how mental illness is understood within healthcare and society, examining the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to mental health challenges. A key focus will be addressing stigma, misconceptions, and societal attitudes toward mental illness, encouraging students to reflect on how these perceptions impact individuals and their access to care.
The Role of the Mental Health Nurse in Healthcare
Mental health nurses play a crucial role across various healthcare settings, including inpatient units, community services, crisis teams, and the third sector. This section will also highlight the growing interface of mental health nursing with those living with learning disabilities and learning differences. Students will explore the core skills, values, and responsibilities required for effective mental health nursing, emphasising the importance of communication, care planning, therapeutic relationships, and person-centred care. This will include an introductory understanding of the Mental Health Act (MHA) and its application in practice. Additionally, the module will start to cover safeguarding, risk assessment, advocacy, and professional accountability, providing students with the knowledge and skills to begin to navigate the complex legal and ethical landscape of mental health nursing while upholding the rights and dignity of service users and their families.
The Recovery Approach and Inclusive Care
This module provides insight into the history of the profession and the development of the recovery movement, along with the adapted models that are central to modern mental health nursing—promoting hope, empowerment, and person-centred care. It explores key recovery approaches, including the Tidal Model and the CHIME framework, emphasising resilience, adaptability strategies, and trauma-informed care. Students will learn how recognising the impact of trauma can shape more compassionate, safe, and effective interventions, ensuring individuals feel heard, valued, and supported on their recovery journey.
The module also highlights the essential role of families, carers, and multidisciplinary teams, reinforcing the importance of collaborative working practices in recovery. Additionally, students will develop an early understanding of the unique interface between mental health nursing, learning differences, and learning disabilities—crucially distinguishing between the two.
A key focus will be on how cultural differences shape recovery experiences, acknowledging that beliefs about mental health, trauma, and healing vary across communities. By exploring diverse perspectives, students will develop an understanding of how to provide culturally sensitive, inclusive care that respects individuals' values, traditions, and lived experiences.
By integrating recovery principles and trauma-informed approaches into their practice, students will begin to weave the complex threads of therapeutic relationships, fostering environments that promote healing, dignity, and empowerment.