Mental Health class provided mental health theories and strategies for

application to any patient affected by mental health disorders in any

healthcare setting. Mental Health, as a course, and in nursing, is primarily
focused on promoting individuals to obtain their individual baseline or
optimal level of mental wellness and functioning to maintain mental and
physical well-being. We were taught to analyze the interpersonal process
with current theories and research from the nursing field and other
disciplines. The clinical setting of this
course provided the students an
opportunity to progress and develop
their therapeutic
communication techniques
specifically with those who are
experiencing acute or chronic
mental health ailments. I
thoroughly enjoyed this clinical
as it also allowed for me to
broaden my perspectives and
further understand where individuals are coming from. It is a constant
reminder about the seriousness of mental health and the maintenance of
emotional well-being. The lecture portion of the course also discussed topics
of mental health, including, but not limited to the following: stress
adaptation, therapeutic communication techniques, theoretical models,
milieu therapy, crisis intervention, psychiatric medication, electroconvulsive
therapy and light therapy, substance abuse disorders, and a number of
mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, borderline personality
disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and others. We were taught
in this course to apply the knowledge we obtained to ensure we can provide
safe, competent psycho-social-cultural and physiological care to individuals
and groups in any number of settings where medical practice may be
relevant.