Mental Health Nurses Day recognises work of 25,000 nurses nationwide
Three nurses share what it takes to work in the mental health sector as we celebrate the seventh annual Mental Health Nurses Day. They also say there is more work to do.
Tasmania
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This year’s Mental Health Nurses Day is a time to express gratitude and push for stronger mental health care, Nurse Stuart O’Neill says.
Mr O’Neill is one of 25,000 mental health nurses nationwide being recognised on Friday for World Mental Health Nurses Day (MHND).
He said the work was “more than just a job”.
“The desire to help people through their darkest moments, and be a steady presence in someone’s recovery journey …. It’s a calling to offer compassion, understanding and support to those who often feel unheard or forgotten,” he said.
“(MHND) reminds us that mental health care is just as important as physical care and the dedicated professionals facilitating the service deserved respect and recognition.”
Nurse Samantha Campbell works as a member of the Tasmanian Health Department’s Hospital at Home program.
Comprised of nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and occupational therapists, the team delivers in-home support to 10 patients at a time.
She said despite receiving “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from patients, the work of mental health nurses was “not really looked at”, with global awareness only brought about in the last few years.
“Most people are impacted by mental health at one point in their life,” she said.
“Our work is important and we need to give awareness that there are services available.”
Fellow team member Emily Cordwell, whose seventh year working in the sector coincides with the seventh annual celebration of MHND, said she was a witness to people’s “incredible resilience”.
“We give people tools, strategies and empowerment to further assist them in their recovery,” she said, emphasising the importance of teamwork within the mental health sphere, and increased resources to create better outcomes.
“It’s important to put the word out there about all the work health professionals do.”
Originally published as Mental Health Nurses Day recognises work of 25,000 nurses nationwide
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