Mental Health is an accessible introductory textbook aimed primarily at nursing and health care students who are not in the mental health field of practice but are seeking to understand mental health and become rounded practitioners. It will also be useful as a broad introduction for mental health nursing students.

Through clear explanations, examples and activities, the book will help you to recognise and support people with mental health issues whenever they are encountered in your practice. You will learn:

What mental health is and how it interacts with physical health About different theories and models that are applied to understanding mental illness How to relate to and communicate with people experiencing mental health problems How to recognise the common diagnosable mental health disorders and understand the treatments and interventions that are applied to them About the impact that mental health issues can have on people at different stages of life, from childhood to adulthood and later life How to apply legal and ethical frameworks and to assess risk when supporting people with mental health issues. Written by a team of highly experienced mental health academics and practitioners, this book will help you to develop the underpinning knowledge and skills you need and to apply them in your own field of practice.

Pre-publication reviews

Accessible and thorough, and definitely well pitched for non-mental health clinicians. Senior Lecturer, Mental Health Nursing

From an adult nursing point of view it’s got everything I would expect it to cover. Adult nursing student

The book is very readable and accessible, I like the tone of the text as it is informative, and the activities give you chance to reflect…. The information is comprehensive without being too wordy, but academically sound. This book should be on the reading list for all nursing students and other HCP students. It should also be on the book shelf in all nursing offices, [social worker] offices, occupational health etc.. Mental health nursing student

I would definitely recommend this book to non-specialists. I like the breadth of areas that the book covers. Senior Lecturer, Mental Health Nursing

Essentials is a series of accessible, introductory textbooks for students in nursing, health and social care. New and forthcoming titles in the series:

The Care Process Communication Skills Leadership Learning Disabilities Mental Health Promoting Health and Wellbeing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Study Skills