Nursing care for mental health patients with substance abuse

This article discusses the role of nurses and midwives in providing care to mental health patients with substance abuse. It highlights the importance of patient education, mental health counseling, and physical care. The article also emphasizes the need for support to families of patients dealing with drug addiction.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Mental health and substance abuse
Name of the student
University name
Author’s note

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Brief description of the topic
The current topic focuses upon the aspect of providing nursing care to the ones
suffering from mental health issues owing to substance abuse. The nurses and the midwives
play a huge role in the control and management of substance abuse. The problem has been
rampant within the youth as they have been overtly exposed to drugs and alcohol as a result
of peer pressure. The nurses and the midwives have been often employed in the care of the
patient suffering from substance abuse within rehab care. The midwifery nurses could help
the patient cope up with drug addiction by supporting them through alternative holistic care
regimens (Perry et al. 2015). The substance abuse nurses care for patient in both inpatient and
outpatient settings. They work with patient of all ages, which includes adults as well as
juveniles. There are various aspects of treatment in mental health care and substance abuse
such as – patient education, mental health counselling and physical care. Though, the mental
health counselling the nurses aims at understanding the issues which contribute to the
development of psychological dependency over drugs by the patient. As mentioned by
Kitchener and Jorm (2017), helping the patients figure some of these deep rooted
psychological issues can reduce the chances of the drug relapse.
The midwives could also contribute towards positive patient education by educating
the patients regarding the ill effect of drug dependency over their physical as well as mental
well being. The midwives also extend their support to the family members of the patient by
teaching them on the manner in which they should interact with the patient or help them cope
up with the drug addiction through love and support (Hughes et al. 2018).

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Reflection
I have chosen this topic for my current study as it feel that mental health is one of the
prime concerns of the current decade. Additionally, I feel that there is a huge amount of
stigma regarding extending support and care services to patients suffering from mental health
issues attributable to drug abuse. It has been seen that more and more youths are getting
victimised to drug addiction. I feel most of the times the reason for restoring to such bas
health habits is peer pressure, negative self image and social insecurities. I have felt
applying strict control measures right from the very beginning could prevent the development
acute addiction within the patients. One of the most important methods which could be
applied over here is implementing sufficient patient education. As suggested by Morley et
al. (2015), the midwives and nurses play an instrumental role in imparting sufficient
patient education along with educating and supporting the families in dealing with the drug
addicted teenagers. I feel the midwives and the nurses are strong part of the community
structure which is aimed promoting autonomy of the health service users. I also feel that the
midwives are sufficiently trained in monitoring the recovery of the patient who is
recuperating from substance abuse. For instance, the involvement of the midwives can
reduced the chances of infections which are spread through poor injecting practices. They
can provide effective psychological interventions and manage complex clinical presentations.
I also feel that the involvement of the midwives can help in effective data monitoring.

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
References
Hughes, E., Edmondson, A.J., Onyekwe, I., Quinn, C. and Nolan, F., 2018. Identifying and
addressing sexual health in serious mental illness: Views of mental health staff working in
two National Health Service organizations in England. International journal of mental health
nursing, 27(3), pp.966-974.
Kitchener, B.A. and Jorm, A.F., 2017. The role of Mental Health First Aid training in nursing
education: A response to Happell, Wilson & McNamara (2015). Collegian, 24(3), pp.313-
315.
Morley, G., Briggs, E. and Chumbley, G., 2015. Nurses' experiences of patients with
substance-use disorder in pain: a phenomenological study. Pain Management Nursing, 16(5),
pp.701-711.
Perry, L., Lamont, S., Brunero, S., Gallagher, R. and Duffield, C., 2015. The mental health of
nurses in acute teaching hospital settings: a cross-sectional survey. BMC nursing, 14(1), p.15.