Community mental health nursing

Mental illness is a leading cause of illness in Australia accounting for 13 per cent of the total disease burden (healthy life years lost) following cancer (16%), musculoskeletal conditions (15%) and cardiovascular disease (14%) (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2014). People with mental illness are more likely to die prematurely from physical illness (World Health Organization [WHO], 2013). One in five Australians and one in six New Zealanders will experience a mental illness in any one year (AIHW, 2014; Ministry of Health, 2012). Much of the care provided for individuals and families experiencing mental illness occurs within the community, and nurses are major providers of that care. This chapter focuses on the role of community mental health nurses in providing recoveryorientated care for individuals living with mental illness and their families.