Mental health nursing and mental health promotion: a UK case example

This paper places in a European context recent research work carried out at Middlesex University, London, UK for the PROMISE DG Sanco European project. The work at Middlesex sought to critically review a new mental health nursing curriculum being introduced at the university, using the ten quality criteria for training social and health care professionals in mental health promotion. Each of fourteen nursing modules in this new curriculum was individually reviewed and judgements were made as to what extent each of the 10 PROMISE Guidelines quality criteria were present or absent in these modules. It was found that half of the modules contained references to the principles of mental health promotion, but that this was not followed through in terms of identifying and developing core skills necessary to implement mental health promotion. There was little reference for example to advocacy. It was concluded that mental health promotion is still not seen as a core essential skill component in professional mental health nursing in the UK.

PROMISE: Providing mental health promotion training guidelines and training resources for healthcare professionals. Held at Middlesex University, London.