Mental health promotion: is nursing dropping the ball?

Abstract

As a discipline, nursing has espoused a philosophy of caring for the whole person, including not only the physical but also the psychosocial and spiritual realms. Health promotion and the desire to promote healthy communities are a focus of the discipline and are evidenced by the curricula in nursing programs as well as community activism by individuals and groups of nurses. Although health promotion should include measures to address not only physical but also mental health, there is a disparity in the nursing literature regarding mental health promotion. Is this because mental health promotion is assumed to be a natural outgrowth of the caring aspect of nursing or because mental health promotion is relegated only to those who specialize in mental health? Is there a research gap in the area of mental health promotion or is there a failure to use research-based actions to promote mental health in nursing curricula? This article addresses the current state of mental health promotion in nursing.