nursingforsocialjustice

In recent months I have begun to question the relationship between the structure of psychiatry and the practice of mental health nursing. The terms “psychiatric nursing” and “mental health nursing” are often used as synonyms. Is it just semantics? Do they mean the same thing? Do they do the same things? Or, as we are now questioning the structures of the systems that we have taken for granted as truth, is it the time to question whether this is an oppressive structure that is also ready to be dismantled?

Clearly, Psychiatry is not equivalent to mental health. One is a medical practice, the other refers to one’s well-being. It is easy to argue that psychiatric nursing and mental health nursing are one in the same. But, conceptually, are they? I suspect they are not. And, if they are not, I think, if we as nurses continue to care for people in mental health space, we have to know why.

I am interested in how psychiatric nursing came to be. I am also interested in how mental health nursing came to be, and how it differs or shares similarities with psychIatric nursing. If you are reading this and a psychiatric nurse, I encourage you to share what you know and what you learned in your formal education about the history of psychiatric nursing in the comments section. This can be a real-time tracker of your stories.

When we say “mental health and psychiatric nursing” what do we mean? Is the term intended to be inclusive of a designation of nurses (Registered psychiatric nurses) and a specialty of other nurses (mental health Registered Nurses)? How did this split happen between psychiatric nurses and nursing and mind health/mental health/behavioural health/mental wellness centres and mental health nursing? I am interested in finding out because it think it has implications in how mental health services are created and in how psychiatric services are sustained.

Peace,

Michelle D.