joanna mcdougal

Comment on: Calls for more understanding of nurses with mental health problems

joanna mcdougal's comment 25-Dec-2009 10:18 pm

I believe that depending on the degree of severity of depression, nurses can continue to work and make a valuable contribution to mental health nursing.I do think that the nursing culture does not help though as we are encouraged to take on extra tasks, work through breaks etc or risk being ostracised by our peers. If a person with a mental health issue is going to work, they need to have good boundaries and assertiveness as well as an awareness and willingness of not trying to overcompensate as this tends to end in disaster. I have had depression for four years and have found that disclosure can be a double-edged sword. After I confided about my issue, I found I was taken less seriously and legitimate work related complaints were dismissed as an inability to cope. I think mental health nurses are some of the worst offenders and should be more empathic. I have an insight into depression now that I would have never had if it had not happened to me and I think that is one of the reasons I'm a good nurse- because I know how it feels. I am not ashamed of having depression but I will certainly think twice about sharing this information with my colleagues in the future.