9th October 2001

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Northern Ireland's training system for mental health nurses needs a radical overhaul, according to Professor Mary Chambers, Professor of Mental Health Nursing at the University of Ulster.

She was speaking at a recent UU-hosted seminar aimed at developing a new way forward for mental health nursing training in the province.

Delegates to the conference highlighted a host of training and educational needs that have not historically been addressed in Northern Ireland.

Professor Chambers told delegates that developments now under way at the University of Ulster are set to revolutionise mental health nurse training in Northern Ireland.

"We have begun a process of dialogue with providers, practitioners, carers and users of mental health services." she said.

"My role is to harness those energies to make sure that the University of Ulster provides the kind of targeted effective education that will really make a difference for practitioners in the field of mental health nursing and those who use the service."

Pre-registration mental health nursing education commences at UU from October, and Professor Chambers is excited about the possibilities this development makes possible.

"Our aim is to change the face of mental health nursing education in Northern Ireland," said Professor Chambers. "And the process has already started, with our practice development in Mental health programme that we're running in association with the Royal College of Nursing."

"It's estimated that around 1 in 10 of the population suffers from mental health problems at some time their lives - so we need at least 10 per cent of our nurse population to have recognised training in mental health nursing and we’re nowhere near that proportion," said Professor Chambers.

"We need to make the general public and nurses in general more aware of mental health problems and how they present. That would enable earlier diagnosis, earlier interventions, and less suffering. Sufferers could be referred for appropriate treatment at an earlier stage, making therapies more effective."

"And a greater awareness of mental health issues could help people become familiar with self-help techniques - the tools which can help sufferers manage their lives, overcome or adapt to their illness. Those with mental health problems deserve the best care possible."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk