Ethical Issues in Mental Health Nursing

Abstract

Mental health problems are so common that at some point in our lives all of us will be affected either by personal experience or the experience of those close to us. Thus, for example, the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia, the most severe and enduring of mental illness, is 1 per cent and of depression more than 20 per cent (Department of Health, 1994). We know that roughly one in three of us will have a panic attack or panic attacks during our lifetime (Gournay, 1996) and up to 40 per cent of all general practitioner (GP) consultations concern medical problems for which no physical cause is evident. Mental health problems range from discrete episodes of anxiety and depression which last no more than a few days, to the most serious and enduring forms of illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. There is no simple spectrum covering the positions between these two extremes; mental health problems are best conceptualized as being multifaceted and multidimensional. Problems often present themselves somewhat paradoxically. For example, people with the most severe obsessions and compulsions may spend literally hours a day washing their hands while at the same time lead a very productive life in one of the professions and also have major familial and parental responsibilities.