Nurses need to step up to improve child and adolescent mental health globally

Abstract

Nurses are often the first point of contact for children and adolescents experiencing mental health challenges. Those nurses may be located in perinatal services, schools and general practices and have the advantage of enjoying a role that is familiar to, and trusted by, many. Early intervention is essential for young people who, in a global environment that is rife with war, poverty, violence and other forms of instability, are at risk of anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, drug and alcohol misuse and suicide (Malla et al., 2018). Without appropriate intervention, young people are at increased risk of developing chronic mental disorders that interrupt dreams to live a fulfilling and contributing life (Gore F et al., 2011). But youth mental health as a specialty struggles for fair funding. It remains marginalised and under-resourced in many parts of the world (Ravens-Sieberer et al., 2015). Services are often adult and treatment-oriented, rather than youth, family-centred, and preventative (Pearce, Dundas, Whitehead, & Taylor-Robinson, 2019). Some countries, such as Australia, have endorsed a National Mental Health Plan with strategies targeting children (Collins P, Insel T, Chockalingam, Daar, & Maddox Y, 2013; National Mental Health Commission, 2019). Nurses, particularly those located in community and primary care settings, are key to the success and integration of these plans and strategies, but they need focused professional development and greater career opportunities within this subspecialty if they are to maximise their potential (Maughan, 2018). To thrive in childhood and adolescence, individuals need stable, responsive nurturing relationships and communities that provide safety, support, friendship, and stimulation so that they can fulfil their potential. In reality, however, many young people do not live in safe, nurturing environments. Globally, almost 1 in 7 actually had a diagnosable mental disorder in the last 12 months (Kieling et al., 2011). In Australia, almost three quarters of young people experiencing mental distress do not seek or receive help in a timely way, because of a combination of shame, lack of knowledge, and lack of access to limited services (Lawrence et al., 2015). The long-term effects of this inadequacy are devastating because society's most precious resourcechildrenmay needlessly suffer and die. In 2017, Australian statistics indicated that suicide accounted for 32.9% of deaths among 15-19-year-old females and 30.6% of deaths among 20-24-year-old females (https://www.lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/about-suicide/ suicide-data/suicide-facts-and-stats).

Sestrinska skrb u prevenciji poremećaja mentalnoga zdravlja u adolescenata

“…The nurse/technician is often the first point of contact for an adolescent facing a mental health problem. Prevention is necessary for adolescents who are in an environment filled with war events, violence, poverty, and other forms of instability that can cause anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, addictions, and gim oblicima nestabilnosti koji mogu uzrokovati tjeskobu, depresiju, samoozljeđivanje, poremećaje jedenja, ovisnosti te suicidalno ponašanje [31]. Medicinska sestra / medicinski tehničar treba nastojati stvoriti podržavajući, motivacijski i pozitivan odnos s adolescentom te treba posjedovati vještinu aktivnog slušanja kako bi se moglo prepoznati i usmjeriti adolescenta koji se suočava s problemom na pronalazak rješenja.…”

“…Problemi i poremećaji mentalnoga zdravlja počinju se javljati u sve ranijoj životnoj dobi, sve češće su kroničnog karaktera te narušavaju kvalitetu života adolescenta i njegove obitelji. Poremećaji mentalnoga zdravlja u adolescenata sve su rašireniji o čemu svjedoče razni epidemiološki podaci te se može zaključiti da su poremećaji mentalnoga zdravlja velik javnozdravstveni problem koji zahtijeva hitne preventivne interven-suicidal behavior [31]. The nurse/technician should strive to create a supportive, motivational, and positive relationship with the adolescent and should possess the skill of active listening to be able to recognize and guide the adolescent who is facing a problem to find a solution.…”

Analysis of the frequency and characteristics of the most common predictors of anxiety in adolescents

“…Istraživanja Mcallister upućuju na značaj ranijih intervencija za mlade ljude koji su, u globalnom okruženju koje obiluje ratom, siromaštvom, nasiljem i drugim oblicima nestabilnosti, izloženi riziku od anksioznosti, depresije, samopovređivanja, poremećaja u ishrani, zloupotrebe droga i alkohola i samoubistva. Bez odgovarajuće intervencije, mladi ljudi su pod povećanim rizikom od razvoja hroničnih mentalnih poremećaja [26].…”