Towards a critical theory of mental health nursing

Abstract

In this paper, the author argues that, despite the self-image of the mental health nursing profession as innovative, radical and progressive, this is a 'false consciousness'. Mental health nursing is deeply immersed in a crisis of legitimacy which dates from, at least, the publication of Russell Barton's Institutional Neurosis in 1959. However, although mental health nurses responded positively to the insights of Russell Barton, they failed to respond directly to the dissenting voices of the anti-psychiatrists or the damning criticisms of various official inquiries into care in various individual psychiatric hospitals during the 1970s. Instead mental health nursing has uncritically embraced humanistic psychology and vaingloriously promoted a false image of mental health nursing which suggests that it has wholeheartedly embraced sensitive user-centred approaches to care. However, the author suggests that, despite superficial similarities between person-centred psychology and the theories of the anti-psychiatrists, mental health nursing can never develop truly liberating approaches to care unless it widens its focus from purely inter-personal relationships and addresses historical, structural and ideological influences on both mental health services and the causation of mental distress.

Passive patient or engaged expert? Using a Ptolemaic approach to enhance mental health nurse education and practice

“…However, trying to achieve this can be problematic. Hopton (1997) noted that many mental health nurses claim to utilize humanistic psychology, basing their practice on Carl Rogers' person‐centred therapy. Fundamental to this approach is the belief that nobody knows the person as well as the person knows themselves.…”

The Mentally Ill and Social Exclusion: A Critical Examination of the Use of Seclusion From the Patient's Perspective

“…Showing someone respect while placing them in the seclusion room proves to be a difficult task (Lamothe, 1988). The problem that unfolds given the questions raised previously, is the contradiction between practicing nursing and exercising social control (Ashmore & Ramsamy, 1993;Gilbert, 1995;Holmes, 2001Holmes, , 2002Holmes & Gastaldo, 2002;Hopton, 1997aHopton, , 1997bHorsfall, 1997;Mason & Mercer, 1995;Naish, 1992;Rolfe, 1990;Sutor, 1993).…”

Stand up for recalcitrance!

“…Hopton () ruthlessly exposed mental health nursing's capacity for self‐delusion in attempting to define itself as a force for progressive, humanist good in the absence of a more critical disposition towards dominant bio‐psychiatry. Hence, we must caution ourselves to both ensure changes to practice are sufficiently deep, enduring and authentic and predicated upon lessons gleaned from honest appreciation of available critique.…”