It is a known phenomenon: 'What you see, you become.'

Caring for those with chronic mental problems such as PTSD, often leads to 'compassion fatigue' whereby the carer ends up with many of the same symptoms: insomnia, nightmares, stomach pains, withdrawal from their family and things they used to enjoy, sudden outbursts of anger, self-medication, hyper-vigilance, etc.

We found that these symptoms can be relieved in about a month through the regular practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM)—about 20 minutes morning and evening. And this applies to both the nurses and their clients.

TM is simple, natural, effortless—even a 10-year-old child can do it. It clears the mind, and is something one is in control of oneself. After the 1.5–2 hour time over 4 consecutive days to learn, one has a tool to use for life. And if follow-up is needed, it is available throughout the world—it is taught systematically in a universal manner.

Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc spontaneously drop off. Happiness, peace of mind, tolerance and creativity blossom. Heart problems and high blood pressure are relieved. Immunity improves so health is better.

This is the most cost-effective and efficient solution to what is becoming a widespread problem. There is a lot of peer-reviewed scientific research on these benefits of TM.

Mainly, such fear is the result of prejudices and stereotypes towards the mentally ill (an old Professor that I had the honor of having said: "people are afraid of the" crazy "and the dead ... and, in reality, of those who have to fear is the sane, the "clever" and the living "); in fact, I have been working with such patients for almost 40 years and I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THEM; Another aspect to take into account is that in order to work with such patients - unless it is for another type of pathology that is not mental - it is desirable that the Nursing Professionals be SPECIALISTS IS MENTAL HEALTH, as well as pregnant women and / or or parturients should attend them Specialists in Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing (Midwives), in fact, in Spain there is a Specialty in Mental Health for Nursing

Happy Christmas and may next year arrive full of good fortune and free from the pandemic! A big hug to all

Prejudice against the mentally ill is an institutional factor of medicine. It pervades psychiatry itself. Psychiatry has artificially extended the parameters of what is or is not mental imbalance excluding only itself.

Unfortunately, psychiatry has a history of abuse towards patients, employs authoritarian practices and equally poor science. A large number of people diagnosed as mentally ill do not suffer from afflictions, but merely bad psychiatry.

As a nurse working in an acute mental health setting I can tell you that many nurses are afraid of possible assaults and no doubt little training and never having worked in mental health does not help remove that fear.

Furthermore, in my opinion, there is a problem linked to the stigma of psychiatric pathology which, despite the progress made in recent years, continues to be widespread even among health professionals. I would increase the hours of internship during the degree course in the psychiatry departments but without a doubt it would be important to raise awareness among citizens with open days.

Nurses often care for people with mental health conditions in general clinical settings. In these situations, they have a responsibility to ensure that the individual’s physical, social and psychological needs are assessed and met. Nurses practising in general clinical settings should be familiar with the skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of people with mental health conditions. This article aims to provide nurses practising in general clinical settings with an understanding of such conditions and the associated effects on an individual’s physical health. It also details the signs and symptoms of various mental health conditions, and outlines the communication skills that nurses can use when caring for people with these conditions in general clinical settings.