Report of mental health nursing journal

Mental Health Nursing,  Mar/Apr 2002  by Rushforth, David

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Following the major restructuring of the journal in 2000, you would be forgiven for thinking 2001 would be an opportunity to consolidate and take stock of the journal's longer-term aims.

We were soon disabused of this notion. The widely reported cost containment exercise reported in Mental Health Nursing in Vol 21, 1, pS was quickly followed by calls for further belt tightening as we hit the deadline for filing this report. We still remain uncertain about the future funding stream for publication in 2002. This is a highly unsatisfactory situation arising wholly from the MSF merger plans.

Brian Rogers in liaison with the CPNA executive and the full backing of the Editorial Board continue to press for a fair deal for the CPNA membership. Protection of the core service, that is, regular publication of Mental Health Nursing, is vital as a mechanism to fulfil our professional development role in all its facets. A more detailed position statement will be announced at the annual conference and reported in the journal.

In many other ways the journal has moved forward, the combination of six issues of MHN and six updates during 2001 ensured regular contact with the membership. This provided an opportunity for enhanced news coverage and commentary on topical issues, which was reflected in the editorial contributions from board members.

On the policy front, this ranged from discussion of the National Service Framework for Mental Health to the incumbent government's financial pledges during the general election. Diverse topics such as, the crisis in farming and 'management by anxiety', formerly known as risk assessment, touched the mood of the moment.

Particularly well received was the issue on rural mental health, Vol 21, no 3 in May 2001. This would have not been possible without the thoughtful and sensitive contributions of the authors and the dynamic journalistic instincts of our editor, Lawrence Pollock whose fieldwork bore fruit, with a vivid report on the impact of foot and mouth in the Greenfield article. This story was subsequently covered in the national daily broadsheets and on Radio 4.

The Editorial Board has been strengthened by the arrival of four new members. Sarah Osborne from mid Wales authored an authoritative article on the decline of agriculture and was appointed to the board in the summer of 2001.

Sarah was joined by Peter Wilkin from Rochdale and Jo Davis from Co. Durham. Both remain close to clinical practice with extensive management experience.

Finally a colleague, Alun Jones joined the Board in the autumn. Alun is a prolific writer on such issues as loss and bereavement and dynamic therapies. We welcome them all.

In signing off this report, I wish to thank Paula Libberton for her work as the new reviews editor, the outgoing book reviews editor Ben Hannigan and two colleagues who have moved on, Nairon Khan and staff member Caroline Keenan who assisted Lawrence in the editorial office. We wish to thank them for their contribution to the journal. Carly-Marie Barraclough was quickly appointed to ensure quality copy and production deadlines were met.

Both Lawrence and I will be attending conference in Edinburgh. This is an ideal opportunity to share your thoughts about the journal and its future. We look forward to listening to you.

David Rushforth

Chair, Mental Health Nursing Editorial Board

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Mar/Apr 2002
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