In each issue we investigate a hot topic currently affecting you and your community practice. Here, Jason Beckford-Ball looks at the current state of the NHS Mental Health Services and asks the question...
The management of nutrition in people with dementia is complex as it involves weight loss due to cognitive and physical problems caused by the condition. There is a range of practical approaches that the community nurse can implement, but these must be adjusted to suit each person. Often, a large proportion of the community nurse’s time is spent supporting carers, family and friends who are looking after a relative who has dementia at home. This can be a demanding role and carers often experience physical and emotional fatigue. For those working with patients with dementia in nursing, residential and care homes, it is particularly important that staff are supported with strong leadership to provide a flexible approach to meal times and that suitable menu options are available.
As with many conditions, diet has a crucial but often underrated relationship with serious mental health problems. In this article the author examines how diet, nutrients and different food types can have a deleterious or beneficial effect on mental health problems such as dementia, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Understanding the complex reactions between healthy eating and cognitive and emotional development can help community nurses provide holistic care for their patients.
The first part of this series (JCN, 28(5): 30–32) provided the background to the study, which used semi-structured interviews with 18 nurses based in Afghanistan during 2013 to focus on factors affecting the delivery of mental health care in the field. This, the second part of the series, details the results of the study in the form of analysis of the interviewees’ verbatim transcripts. The study offers an insight into the role of deployed mental health nurses and examines some of the challenges they face. The findings demonstrate that managing the mental health of armed forces personnel on an operational deployment requires the ability to develop trusting relationships, identify factors leading to stress, and help staff to feel supported.
To help the British armed forces minimise mental health problems while undertaking military duties, operational psychological support is provided by military mental health nurses. This series of two articles is part of the first qualitative research completed in Afghanistan by British armed forces into the effectiveness of the military mental health nursing role. The authors aim to increase understanding of the factors that affect the delivery of nursing care during an operational deployment, including educational and clinical competency, multiprofessional and multinational boundaries, and the challenges of providing nursing care for both military personnel and local nationals. This article, the first of the two-part series, looks at the set up of the study, while the second article (featured in the next issue of JCN) will look at the study findings.
This article describes an initiative in which the Good Care Group and Dementia UK formed a unique partnership that enables specialist dementia care services delivered by a highly qualified Admiral nurse to be provided to clients, families and professional carers in home care settings. Admiral nurses are specialist mental health nurses supported by Dementia UK, and the Good Care Group is the only home care provider to offer this service to its clientele. Admiral nurse support clearly improves quality in the delivery of live-in care provision; support that is substantially beneficial for community nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Zoe Elkins, Head of Care Strategy, The Good Care Group;
Ian Weatherhead, Lead Nurse, Admiral Nursing Direct, Dementia UK
Primary Care services have become an increasingly prominent part of substance misuse delivery in the UK. They expanded in thelast decade with many general practitioners catering for substancemisuse patients in primary care. Nurses have also played a valuable part in helping GPs to work effectively in this area through liaison services and latterly, nurse prescribing clinics. This paper will examine whether problematic drug users can be stabilised and introduced to the idea of recovery, through primary care drug-based services in Islington.
Jeff Fernandez, Nurse Consultant for substance misuse at Islington Primary Care
Mark Medjesi Jones, Deputy Manager for Primary Care alcohol and drug service at Islington Primary Care
Mental health is a serious public health issue that warrants attention and action by all involved in health and wellbeing strategies. The recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for Common Mental Health Disorders highlights that Common Mental Disorders (CMD), such as anxiety and depression can be found in one in six people in the community at any one time. Of those identified, half will have significant symptoms that require interventions from healthcare professionals. In view of the suffering and impact that this has on the holistic aspects of the individual, family and society, it requires a whole systems proactive approach in detecting, managing and preventing further episodes.
Thomas J. Currid RMN, RNT, BSc (Hons) PGCE, Pg Dip (CBT), M.A., Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, London South Bank University, London, UK
Marie Horgan RGN, RMN, Dip Mgt, CLTHE, MSc, Principal Lecturer in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, London South Bank University, London, UK
Article accepted for publication: October 2011
Theresa Hartley briefly describes some of the treatments on offer for patients suffering from schizophrenia.
Carol Postle-Hacon gives a critical analysis of the Health of the Nation White Paper key area mental health, with particular regard to depression in the elderly.
