Citation

Whitelaw A. J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs. 2009; 16(2): 206-210.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2850.2008.01342.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recently, some commentators have suggested, for either pragmatic or philosophical reasons, that the cause of mental distress is irrelevant. In this paper it is suggested that downplaying the role of cause leads to ignoring the link between abuse and mental health difficulties which is disempowering for individuals, short-sighted for service provision and fails to challenge the social structures, inequalities, conditions, practices, values and attitudes that allow abuse to happen. Acknowledging the causal link between abuse and mental health difficulties implies that in addition to building recovery focused therapeutic relationships with individuals, as mental health nurses we need to take seriously our role in mental health promotion from infancy onwards and to acknowledge the importance of being politically aware and involved.