Mental health nursing is one of the most demanding and rewarding specialties in the nursing profession. Mental health nurses work with people of all ages — from adolescents to older adults — across conditions including depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders, and trauma. They provide care in inpatient units, community health teams, private practice, forensic settings, aged care facilities, remote health services, and government departments.
Unlike general nursing, which tends to focus on physical health and task-based care, mental health nursing is centred on therapeutic relationships. The ability to build trust, communicate effectively, and engage with people in complex and distressing situations is at the core of the discipline. Mental health nurses are trained to conduct mental state examinations, assess risk, deliver evidence-based psychosocial interventions, administer and monitor psychotropic medications, and coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams.
Mental health nurses in Australia can pursue the Credentialed Mental Health Nurse (CMHN) credential — administered by ACMHN — which formally recognises specialist expertise and provides access to Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers. ACMHN is the peak professional body representing mental health nurses across Australia, with over 2,200 members in every state and territory.
Liaise
With a number of health care providers across all settings.
Coordinate
Care for the consumer across complex health journeys.
Support
Consumers and their families during life crises and transition periods.
Respond Quickly
And flexibly to work with consumers for the duration of care.
Inform
About mental health maintenance and restoration.
Provide Therapy
With a range of different methods and approaches.
Work Everywhere
In metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas providing vital support.
All Settings
Across the full range of clinical and community service settings.