Friday 21 February 2020 was Mental Health Nurses’ Day. Organised by the RCN Mental Health Forum, the day was partly a response to a drop in mental health nursing staff in the UK. According to statistics from the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the number of mental health nurses fell from 90,693 to 88,821 between 2014 and 2018.
Speaking about Hallam’s mental health nursing course, John Freeman, principal lecturer, said, “Mental health nursing at Sheffield Hallam is a course that is incredibly varied, and one that makes a real difference to students’ lives and careers. Our students learn and practice in the workplace a variety of evidence-based and emerging skills. Their compassion and humanity, combined with professionalism and enthusiasm, have a profound effect on the lives of individuals and families.
“Our graduates are popular with employers as well, and close to 100% of our students go straight into highly skilled employment or further study.”
Jenni Smithson, a mental health nursing lecturer at Hallam
Jenni Smithson, a mental health nursing lecturer at Hallam, also spoke to us about her role and experiences:
“I am proud of my identity as a mental health nurse and proud to be part of the mental health nursing lecturing team at Sheffield Hallam University. I have been very privileged in my career as a mental health nurse, working with a wide range of people from different backgrounds. It’s a very humbling experience to support people with mental health problems and their families. Mental health nurses work with people during some of the most difficult periods of their lives, often when they are feeling at their most vulnerable. It is difficult to articulate in words.The experience of having a mother of someone I worked with take my hand in theirs and thank me for the support I provided their son was a particularly moving moment. I cannot imagine a more rewarding job or career.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with diverse clinical teams. Professional and demographic diversity adds a richness to clinical teams and the care we provide to the people of Sheffield. I am passionate about my new role as a mental health nursing lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University and am delighted to work with current cohorts of student mental health nurses as they begin their journeys into mental health nursing.
“I think it is important when we talk about mental health problems that we recognise that we all have a continuum of mental health in the same way that we have a continuum of physical health. Mental health nurses consider mental health promotion, as well as recovery from mental illness. It is important to consider how we take care of ourselves and each other while we are carrying out this complex work.
“Mental health nurses develop a wide variety of technical and clinical skills, taking into account biological, psychological and social issues when assessing and planning care for people with mental health problems. Nevertheless, my career has provided me with daily reminders of the real difference that simple gestures of kindness, empathy and compassion can make to people who are experiencing complex mental health problems.”
Sheffield Hallam University’s Enabling Healthier Lives campaign
From ground-breaking research to extensive and pioneering training programmes, Sheffield Hallam University is a national leader in creating innovative solutions that enable healthier lives. Our research, whether that be virtual reality to treat burns patients or developing bras designed for women undergoing breast radiotherapy, is rooted in working with partners to provide practical solutions for tackling today’s health challenges.
You can join our campaign on Twitter by using the #enablinghealthierlives hashtag.
