Tackling the world of work Q&A

Mental Health Nursing,  May 2000  by Anderson, Kirsty

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"As we enter a new millennium, we need to ensure that we are in control of the world of work and not controlled by the world of work," said Roger Lyons, MSF general secretary, in an introduction to a question time session. Chaired by Mark Radcliffe, mental health nursing editor for the Nursing Times, the session looked at the way forward for community mental health.

Panel members included: Mandy Reed, new chair of the CPNA; Jan Wallcraft of the Mental Health Foundation; Peter Campbell, founder member of Survivors Speak Out; Peter Kennedy, co-director of the Northern Centre for Mental Health; Roger Lyons, and Roger Kline, national secretary for the health service sector of MSF.

Question: In the year 2000 what is the value or role of health promotion for mental health issues? Do we remove money from mental health funds and give it to the script-writers of soap operas such as Eastenders? - Ruth Hallam-Jones

Jan Wallcraft: We are bettering mental health promotion by targeting particular groups and doing more in terms of community development. People from ethnic groups or with sexuality issues and mental health problems are not understood and tend to be subject to stigma. The key is to increase knowledge in society and if Eastenders has a role in this, then brilliant, but I think there is more to it than that.

Peter Kennedy: While there is evidence that health promotion works in mental health, you often can't do anything about people's prejudice. However, there has been some progress - people with anorexia and bulimia used to be ashamed of their illness but now magazines are full of their stories. This is a great example of what positive promotion from the media can do.

Peter Campbell: Health promotion is essential because integrating people with mental health problems into society is usually avoided.

Mandy Reed: The press are not fond of printing positive things so if soap operas can be used to raise awareness of mental health problems then I think that's great.

Question: Will the National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health standardise care across the country? Maureen Connell

Peter Kennedy: The NSF doesn't prescribe what we should do, it sets standards. What ought to be standardised is that people from around the country have access to good ideas that can be tuned to their own circumstances. The NSF should give people the chance to be creative.

Mandy Reed: I am optimistic about the NSF and hope that it will help to standardise things. However, I do think that it's going to take some time.

Jan Wallcraft: I agree with the importance of standardisation but am not sure that the NSF has the right standards. Quality issues, such as choice, access, respect and advocacy are important. Until everyone has the right to the advocate of their choice, service users will continue to be dis-empowered.

Question: Is nurse consultancy really what is needed? anonymous

Mandy Reed: The idea of people being valued for their clinical expertise is great but I can't see how it's going to work. Where is the funding going to come from?

Peter Kennedy: There are certain nursing roles whose status is so vital that we do need to raise their pay and status.

Peter Campbell: No, we don't really need them.

Roger Kline: This is a job for superman/superwoman and it will raise the status of nurses, but the position wasn't thought through before it was released and there is no money. The jury is still out on this one.

Jan Wallcraft: It s only useful if it's going to improve the quality of what nurses are able to do. The focus should be on being with people.

- Reporting by Kirsty Anderson

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association May 2000
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