This review included studies that have been conducted among people with SMI in hospital or community settings. Types of studies This review considered studies that focused on qualitative data including, but not limited to, designs such as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, action research and feminist research. Search strategy An initial scoping search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Embase was conducted. This yielded a list of synonyms using MeSH terms and CINAHL subject headings and PsycINFO descriptors and

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? The high prevalence of adults presenting to the mental health services places mental health nurses (MHNs) in a unique position to help to identify and support the person with the associated challenges of child sexual abuse (CSA). Feelings of discomfort have been identified by mental health nurses (MHNs) when working with survivors of CSA due to a lack of knowledge, poor confidence and feeling unprepared to inquire and respond to such a sensitive topic. What does the study add to existing knowledge? MHNs are willing to engage in CSA dialogue; however, the level of engagement is often conditional with clear parameters set by participants. Whilst all participants reported they were willing to engage in conversation initiated by the service user, some were unwilling to listen to details of the CSA and used strategies to censor service users from providing details of the CSA. What are the implications for practice? Whilst self‐protecting boundaries helped MHNs to engage in CSA dialogue, strategies to censor aspects of the service user’s dialogue may reinforce the belief that their experience of CSA is too shameful to talk about, hence denying the reality of their experience and contributing to feelings of re‐shaming. MHNs need a combination of theoretical knowledge and psychosocial skills to achieve clinical competence when working with CSA; therefore, training should not only include information pertaining to facts and statistics but also case presentations, clinical training and supervision. Clinical supervision was highlighted by all participants as a necessary means of formal support, more specifically group clinical supervision whereby peer support can also be availed of in a formalized setting. Abstract IntroductionThe high prevalence of adults presenting to the mental health services places mental health nurses (MHNs) in a unique position to support the person with the associated challenges of CSA, yet little is known about the preparedness of MHNs to work with this client population. AimTo explore MHNs’ perceived preparedness to work with adults who have CSA histories, and to elicit their views, skills and confidence in relation to working with this sensitive issue. MethodIn‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with five consenting MHNs. A qualitative descriptive methodology informed the study. A thematic analysis framework guided the data analysis. ResultsThe findings assert that MHNs are willing to work with survivors of CSA despite feeling unprepared to so, MHNs described feeling ill‐prepared in how to respond to CSA, calling for not just education and training specific to CSA but also citing the need for clinical supervision and additional guidelines to enhance their preparedness. DiscussionResults of this study further highlighted the omission of CSA within nursing curricula and the absence of role models within clinical practice as a major barrier to preparedness to work with survivors of CSA. Recommendations are made for training, e...

Edward McCann declares that he/she has no conflict of interest. Gráinne Donohue declares that he/she has no conflict of interest. Fiona Timmins declares that he/she has no conflict of interest. No funding was received for this project.

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Introduction Although there is much research on mental health nurses working with individuals presenting with psychosis, there is a lack of knowledge about the factors that impact the experience of nurses in the presentation specifically of first-time psychosis. Aim This study aimed to explore the factors that impact on the experience of mental health nurses working with individuals and their families who present with a first-time psychosis. Method This qualitative study was conducted through individual semi-structured interviews with eight mental health nurses recruited from community mental health settings with a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience. Data were then subjected to a thematic content analysis. Results This study identified the importance of therapeutic engagement, as well as the need to have clear pathways to care and building capacity through clinical supervision and training when working with this population. Implications for practice Mental Health nurses should engage with additional training, formalized clinical supervision and avail of peer support in order to improve confidence, skills and quality of care, leading to better therapeutic engagement. Pathways to care should be embedded within the wider community to ensure ease of access for individuals and their families. There should be more recognition of the social impact on the individual during untreated psychosis with regard to isolation and withdrawal as well as factors which also affect help-seeking behaviours.

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? ECT is a fast‐working and potentially life‐saving treatment, but it is still considered a controversial treatment choice. Due to lack of knowledge and public stigma, ECT can be an anxiety‐inducing treatment for people experiencing severe depression. The nurse's role is to alleviate this anxiety, aid recovery and minimize the risk of relapse. They manage this onerous task ideally through the therapeutic relationship, and use the skills of assessment and risk identification in order to maximize patient outcomes. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? The views of mental health nurses who provide care for adults receiving treatment of ECT for severe depressive illness are in the main positive. The knowledge of and attitude towards ECT among nurses may reflect on patients and influence treatment choice. If stigma is not addressed, then patients will not be appropriately informed regarding their treatment options. Mental health nurses need to engage in reflective practice to ensure that the dignity of the patient is maintained throughout this treatment. What are the implications for practice? Mental Health nurses should engage with additional training, formalized clinical supervision and avail of peer support in order to improve confidence, skills and quality of care in the delivery of ECT. Education modules should include a presentation of evidence of effectiveness of ECT as a treatment option. Dialogue among mental healthcare colleagues is important about caring for people presenting for ECT treatment. This will ensure that the mental health nurse can remain cognizant of the potential for patient distress throughout this treatment. Abstract BackgroundThere is a considerable dearth of literature on attitudes towards Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) as a treatment for severe depression. Despite being a highly effective treatment, it is still stigmatized even among professionals. Understanding perceptions and knowledge related to ECT treatment among healthcare providers is important for ensuring that treatment can be safely explored as a treatment option with patients. AimThe overall aim of this study is to explore the views of mental health nurses who provide nursing care to people receiving ECT for severe depressive illness in a mental health setting. MethodsThis is a qualitative study using focus groups (n = 2) with 14 mental health nurses who had a minimum of 3 months experience caring for older adults receiving ECT. Transcripts were subjected to a thematic analysis. Full ethical approval was granted for this study. ResultsIn total, four themes were identified exploring attitudinal changes, managing patient dignity, reflecting changes in practice and managing the unknown. In general, participants experienced ECT as a positive treatment option for adults with severe depressive illness contributing to an enhanced quality of life. ConclusionFindings indicate a desire to improve person‐centred care for patients undergoing ECT. Educational support for nurs...

The aim of this research was to assess the psychological effects of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on mental health nurses. An internet-based questionnaire that included the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Zung Self Rating Anxiety Score (SAS) was used to assess the impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of mental health nurses in an Irish mental health service. Among the nurses surveyed (n=161), twelve percent of the participants had an overall IES-R score from 24 to 32 indicating that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was a clinical concern, while 38% had an overall IES-R score >32 indicating that PTSD was a probable diagnosis. The mean SAS score that had been converted to anxiety index scores was 40.78 (SD = 9.25). The results showed that 30% of mental health nurses experienced anxiety levels from moderate to extreme. Overall findings confirm that mental health nurses are experiencing psychological distress as a result of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.Nurses who were < 30 years of age or who were in their current roles for less than a year or were ward-based and worked full-time, were most likely to be affected. Working during COVID-19 has not been routine work practice and for a cohort of workers who are already under pressure, the sacrifice in terms of general well-being has been immense. The offer of individualized psychological support for mental health nurses working during the pandemic should be both practical in nature and flexible enough to meet individual needs.

LGBTI clients present specific challenges for the mental health profession with key issues for transgender people identified as including isolation, fear, stigma, and family rejection, all of which contribute to the transgender community's high levels of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, self-harm, and suicide. This qualitative research paper explores the experiences of Irish psychotherapists working with transgender clients to explore specifically the nature of the therapeutic relationship. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, it examines the subjective experience of three participant psychotherapists and endeavours to make sense of the phenomenology that emerged from semi-structured interviews. The phenomenological analysis of the data collected resulted in three salient themes emerging: (i) Therapeutic identification, (ii) Maternal countertransference, and (iii) Confusion. It is hoped that these findings which relate to the therapeutic relationship will be of utmost importance to others working within the mental health profession where recovery is dependent on the strength of this relationship.