[1][2] The practice of MHNs is called mental health nursing.
MHNs comprise approximately 12% of the total NHS Nursing workforce.
[3] MHNs typically work within community or hospital settings, as part of Crisis Assessment and Treatment, inpatient environments and/or community mental health teams.
The role of an MHN has gradually transitioned over the years, to encompass a greater level of involvement in patient care e.g. nurses now have authority to prescribe medication.
[5] The main responsibilities of a MHN can be subdivided into six broad categories with a certain degree of overlap:[6]