My Journey to Becoming a Critical Mental Health Nurse (Part 1)

I’ve just completed my second year of nurse training, but my journey began many years ago. I’ve always been known amongst friends and family for being both a deep thinker, and a little eccentric; I have a natural tendency to dig deeper and resist the status quo. I had the “6 Cs”, as we all do to varying degrees, but I believe my questioning nature was key to developing them. I would rather show than explain how I feel this happened, so what follows is narrative, rather than analysis. My parents split when I was three, and in a decision practically unheard of in the seventies, custody was awarded to my father. My mother’s lack of emotional stability was cited as the main reason, something I was more reminded of by people other than herself. I accepted this and got on with growing up. What seemed like an outward course leading away from childhood began.

Bonnie Burstow Book Review

The following post is a book review by Jonathan Gadsby. If you would like to review a book or write a response to a book, please let us know. We have a list of great books to recommend, or perhaps you have one that you want to introduce to us. Our list of books and... Continue Reading →

Perpetuating unkindness

We are very grateful to Dr Alec Grant, who has contributed the following post. Alec is Reader in Narrative Mental Health in the School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton. He originally trained as a mental health nurse in the 1970s, then as a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist. After teaching and writing in these areas for many... Continue Reading →

Psychopolitics in the 21st Century

The following post is by Jonathan Gadsby, and is a report on a conference that he attended following an invitation to the CMHNN by one of the supporting organisations, the Social Work Action Network (SWAN). SWAN are the social work equivalent of the CMHNN (more information can be found on their website.) Thank you to... Continue Reading →

The Mental Health Act: Legalised Discrimination

The following post is from Gary Sidley. We asked Gary to write for us following his contributions to the Durham conference, especially on the subject of the Mental Health Act. Gary's post speaks for itself. Readers will find it raises some profound and political questions. Please let us know your thoughts (by commenting on this... Continue Reading →

Karen’s story

The following post is written by mental health nurse Karen Taylor. It is possible that some readers will know something of Karen already, although others will not. She has been interested in this network for a long time and as you read on you will see the hopes that she has for it. We feel... Continue Reading →

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