An Expansive View of Mental Health Nursing
Mental health nursing is a specialty within our profession that may be frequently overlooked and underappreciated. Nurses working in the realm of mental health perform an excellent service for many individuals and families living with the effects of a wide variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
While the first half of the 20th century may have been the Dark Ages for mental health in the United States in many respects — including the longstanding stigma surrounding mental illness — the 21st century has seen a renaissance in our willingness to address conditions that are more common than ever previously accepted or acknowledged.
In this respect, the nurse’s role in the mental health of their fellow Americans is crucial.
Decreasing Stigma, Raising Awareness
In the 21st century, we are witnessing a new openness in terms of ordinary people being willing to discuss mental health honestly and authentically.
According to a 2019 survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), “most Americans harbor positive views about mental health disorders and treatment.” The survey findings state, “A total of 87% of American adults agreed that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of, and 86% said they believe that people with mental health disorders can get better.”
These statistics are a convincing argument that the stigma of mental illness, while not wholly eradicated, has significantly decreased from days gone by when those with mental health disorders were more likely to be considered dangerous and thus removed from society and locked away.
With attitudes changing, the public’s mind-opening, and healthcare providers increasingly willing to talk about mental health with their patients, the table has been set for Americans’ mental wellness to take a front seat in the healthcare space.
In a 2021 editorial on the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) titled “Integrating Behavioral Health Into Primary Care,” author Sarina Schrager, MD, MS opines that “fully integrating behavioral health in primary care is the gold standard for care.” She adds that “integrated behavioral health has been shown to improve depression scores and improve the patient and physician experiences.”
As providers adopt this outlook in the exam room, patients’ comfort in talking openly about their concerns and symptoms will likely increase.
Paradigm Shifts
With the FDA poised to approve MDMA (Ecstasy) for the treatment of PTSD, and psilocybin and ketamine for the treatment of depression, a paradigm shift in the worlds of psychiatry and psychology is upon us.
For nurses, the doors to new potential career paths are also opening. The Organization of Psychedelic and Entheogenic Nurses (OPENurses) and the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA) are two organizations that are leading the way for the nursing profession in these emerging fields.
In 2023, the American Nurses Association (ANA) officially recognized cannabis nursing as a specialty nursing practice, building on its 2021 position statement. The 2023 ANA press release stated:
“ANA is pleased to officially recognize cannabis nursing practice as a nursing specialty…This recognition highlights the essential role and special contribution of cannabis nurses to the health care system and promotes enhanced integration of cannabis therapies for health care consumers across diverse health care settings.”
Cannabis nursing certification programs and pertinent training, conferences, and literature are adding even more credence to the fact that these previously fringe ideas and treatments are beginning to intersect with mainstream medical care.
In these exciting times of change and expansion in the mental health field, nurses are seeing the emergence of new avenues for career advancement, entrepreneurship, personal and professional fulfillment, and recognition of, and certification for, their knowledge and expertise.
The Future is Unwritten
The future of mental health care in the United States is unwritten, yet there are courageous, intelligent, forward-thinking professionals who are paving the way as these new paradigms emerge.
As providers become more confident in talking with patients about mental health, new treatment options are made more widely available, and the stigma of mental illness continues to wane, we can all embrace the future of mental health care as it unfolds.
Nurses are natural change agents, often leading innovation in mental health care. The trust the public generally places in nurses will serve us all well in the years ahead.
As complicated human beings living in an equally complex world, challenges to our mental health may always be with us. Yet, our attitudes, practices, and beliefs will ultimately shape the direction our society takes in this regard. At this time in history, we are heading in the right direction.
