Scottish Mental Health Nursing Review

Trauma Informed Approaches in Cervical Screening Practice, NHS Forth Valley

In line with our Public Sector Equality Duty and the Equality Act 2010, mental health nurses must actively work to eliminate discrimination and advance equality. There are many opportunities for mental health nurses to play a significant role in improving both the physical and mental health of people with serious mental illness. For example, through being embedded across all our communities and operating at the 'frontline' of services, mental health nurses in primary care settings play a pivotal role in mitigating the effects of health inequalities and are uniquely placed to support people with co-occurring physical and mental health needs.

Mental health nurses in all settings and sectors have an opportunity to improve the physical and mental health of people with SMI through, for example, systematic monitoring and collaborative health promotion interventions initiated at the onset of people's contact with mental services. This must remain a priority area of focus for all mental health nurses in Scotland.

During our National Conversation, some participants highlighted that addressing socioeconomic factors, and other social determinants of mental health, should be a priority. Therefore, upholding and strengthening equalities and human rights underpins our Principles for Care and Practice. We also heard there is a need to further address the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health, and stigma faced by people with protected characteristics and marginalised groups.

10. ACTION: Working with partners, we will scope options for developing and delivering a series of training events for mental health nurses that focuses on promoting relational impacts of care and reducing health inequalities in communities experiencing multiple disadvantage.