NSG3MHI- Mental Health & Illness Article 2022

Running head: REFLECTION
NSG3MHI- Mental Health & Illness
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1REFLECTION
Introduction
Also known as mental health disorders, mental illnesses refer to health conditions that
create an impact on behaviour, mood, and thinking of a person, and also affect the capability of
the individual to relate to the surroundings (Grob, 2019). Each person suffering from mental
illness has different experiences, even if the diagnosis of the condition is similar. genetics,
lifestyle factors, stressful family life, or occupation increase the susceptibility of particular
individual, as do certain traumatic life circumstances, like being subjected to abuse, or being a
crime victim (Jaco, 2017). The article was based on the fact that there exist attitudes and
perspectives within most communities that consider signs and symptoms of mental illness as
uncomfortable and frightening. Eventually these attitudes foster discrimination and stigma
towards people suffering from mental disorders. Such reactions are particularly common when
the individuals are brave enough to acknowledge the presence of a mental health issue, which
subsequently results in different forms of intolerance or exclusion within the workplace, family,
or social circle (Ta et al., 2016).
The article recognises the presence of stigmatizing views amongst healthcare
professionals that are well comparable to the general public. The researchers acknowledged that
nurses have been found to typically hold negative perspectives to mental disorder diagnosis
(Happell et al., 2018). Not only did the researchers highlight the prevalence of different anti-
stigma campaigns, but also associated negative attitudes with poor patient outcomes.
Considering the fact that nurses form the largest group of frontline healthcare workers in the
domain of mental health, the researchers tried to explore the attitude of nursing students towards
mental health nursing and mental illness across four European nations, Finland, Norway,

2REFLECTION
Ireland, and the Netherlands. This assignment will contain a reflection on the article and its
findings.
Description of feelings
The research article highlighted the difference in nursing education between different
countries. While in Ireland, graduate nurses are prepared for specialists nursing practice in the
domain of mental health and wellbeing, it is not the same in other European nations and
Australia. The researchers also elucidated that mental health nursing is not an extremely popular
career selection, and the quality and amount of clinical and theoretical education determines
interest of nursing students in the field (Happell et al., 2018). This particular effect was not an
alignment with my views and philosophies. I hold the opinion that all nursing professionals have
an accountability of promoting sound mental health, with the aim of preventing the onset of any
problems amongst patients, and supporting the latter in their journey of recovery from mental
disorder.
I had the prior conception that presence of an undergraduate degree in nursing provides
the opportunity to register to nursing practice in a mental health unit. In addition, reports
highlight the demand of mental health nurses across Australia (Scanlan & Still, 2019). However,
I did not have adequate information about the state of mental health nursing in European
countries. The article also highlighted that nursing professionals play an important role in the
elimination of stigma towards people suffering from mental illness. This statement made me
think about the presence of stereotypic views in the society about mental illness, and how they
affect the patients (Happell et al., 2018).

3REFLECTION
With the aim of determining the attitudes of nursing students towards mental health
nursing the researcher used the Mental Health Nurse Education survey and the Opening Minds
Scale. Responses from the survey suggested that attitude of nursing students towards mental
health nursing were typically favourable, however there existed a major difference in opinion.
Nursing students from Ireland and Australia had an inclination of displaying positive approaches
and attitudes, in comparison to students from Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands (Happell et
al., 2018). The presence of positive outlook towards mental health nursing from the
aforementioned two countries helped me realise that the students were well aware of the impact
that mental health creates on the psychological, social, and emotional well-being of the affected
individual. In addition, their views suggested that day displayed willingness for formulating and
delivering medical care, nursing care and support to individuals suffering from mental health
issues. However, I was particularly disturbed by the non-existence of positive approach among
the nursing students from the three European nations, since it suggested that although the
students accepted the genetic or medical nature of a mental health condition and the requirement
for treatment, there was a negative approach towards the affected individuals.
I was also particularly distressed about the significant feelings of shame that people
suffering from mental disorders have to endure, due to the existing disgrace, which in turn
affects their treatment outcomes and worsens their health and wellbeing. Mental disorders have a
long history of being prejudiced and discriminated in communities all across the world (Carey et
al., 2019). From being considered as an action of sin to being regarded as some kind of moral
punishment, the philosophies and ideologies associated with etiology of mental disorders are
widespread (Farreras, 2019). However, the negative outlook of nursing students from European
nations made me feel that the stigma and discrimination still exists in the contemporary society,