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Recovery Camp is an innovative work-integrated learning (WIL) approach. Bringing together healthcare students and consumers with lived experience of mental illness, it is intentionally designed whereby each participant has a role that facilitates the educational experience. Student learning is developed through their involvement in activities, interactions with consumers and reflective practices. Consumers assume the role of educator, sharing their unique and personal experiences of mental illness with students. Recovery Camp challenges traditional healthcare WIL settings, by offering a setting that is both autonomy-supportive and provides the provision of structure. After attending Recovery Camp, students have shown themselves to be more self-determined toward working in the area of mental health, as well as displaying resilience and positive attitudes.

Internationally there are both current and looming mental health workforce shortages. Mental health nurses who have received specialist education are a vital component to respond to these challenges. Aim: This qualitative study aimed to better understand the efficacy and product quality of mental health nurse workforce preparation through pre-registration nurse education in Australia. Method: To meet this aim 19 educators representing 13 different universities were qualitatively interviewed. Results: Thematic analysis found four themes (1) Graduates are under-prepared for safe mental health nurse practice; (2) Essential mental health nurse capabilities are missing in graduates; (3) Barriers to graduate preparation, and (4) Negative impacts of inadequate graduate preparation. Discussion: Findings from this study suggest future workforce shortages would be best addressed through direct undergraduate entry for mental health nursing Implications for Practice: All nurse undergraduate training needs significantly enhanced mental health theory and placement within the course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT An integrative review methodology was employed, following PRISMA guidelines and Whittemore and Knafi's method for integrative review. Thus, the review synthesised the findings of empirical literature published between 2005 and 2023 drawn from four databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus. From the seven studies that met the inclusion criteria, a number of themes emerged: (a) relief of carer burden; (b) benefits for individuals with Mental Illness (MI); (c) barriers to accessing respite care; and (d) inappropriate services model for respite care for individuals with MI. The review findings indicate that using respite care services can decrease a carer's burden and can positively impact both carers and individuals with MI. Conversely, respite care may cause an increase in carers' stress levels due to the lack of service availability, insufficient knowledge and understanding about respite care services for carers, respite accessibility challenges accessible for people with MI and the reluctance of people with MI to accept respite care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The principles of personal recovery are primarily applied in outpatient and community settings as these settings provide continuity of care and recovery‐based community programs supporting consumers' recovery journey.A range of healthcare professionals are involved in the care of people within mental health in‐patient units, including nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers.The integration of recovery‐oriented care in mental health inpatient units may be impaired by a lack of confidence among mental health professionals. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: Developing hope and a safe place is an integral part of recovery‐oriented practice within mental health inpatient units.Instilling connectedness is a relevant recovery principle; however, there may be greater barriers in mental health settings which traditionally prioritise safety and risk mitigation practices to prevent perceived harmful behaviours.Staff workload and inadequate understanding of recovery concepts present challenges to promoting recovery‐oriented care in everyday practice.Using strength‐based practice is critical in promoting a safe space for consumers by providing psychosocial interventions and person‐centred care. What are the implications for practice?: The provision of recovery‐oriented practice requires adopting a collaborative approach that places a strong emphasis on the involvement of consumers and their families.Empowering mental health professionals to believe that recovery‐oriented practice is possible in mental health inpatient units is crucial.Mental health professionals need to create a safe environment and positive relationships through respect and empathy for consumers and their family members. Introduction: Recovery‐oriented practice underpins an individual's personal recovery. Mental health nurses are required to adopt a recovery‐oriented approach. Globally, a paucity of literature exists on mental health professionals' experience of recovery‐oriented practice in mental health inpatient units. Aim: The aim of this synthesis was to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals regarding recovery‐oriented care in mental health inpatient units by appraising and synthesising existing qualitative research. Method: Three databases, including MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched between 2000 and 2021. Data were extracted and synthesised using thematic integrative analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed with the CASP Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results: Ten qualitative research projects met the inclusion criteria. Four themes were identified (i) developing a safe and hopeful space, (ii) promoting a healing space, (iii) instilling connectedness and (iv) challenges to realising recovery‐oriented care. Discussion: Mental healthcare professionals perceived the principles of recovery‐oriented care to be positive and include: therapeutic space, holistic care and person‐centred care. Nevertheless, findings revealed limited knowledge and uncertainty of the recovery concept to be key barriers that may hinder implementation into practice. Implications for Practice: Recovery‐oriented practice must underpin consumer and family engagement, treatment choices and continuity of care to facilitate consumer's personal recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal‐setting is a tool that empowers consumer recovery. Though the pandemic has affected consumer goal‐setting, the nature and extent of this impact have not been examined in a recovery setting. The aim of this study is to assess whether the recovery goals of individuals with serious mental illness changed in association with the COVID‐19 pandemic. In this mixed‐methods design, data were collected from a purposeful sample of consumers (nTOTAL = 355) aged 19–67 years (MAGE = 44.56, SD = 13.05) attending Recovery Camp, a 5‐day therapeutic‐recreation programme for individuals living with severe mental illness (e.g., PTSD, schizophrenia). Consumer‐set goals were examined across 5 programmes prior to March 2020 (nPRE = 126) and 11 following (nPOST = 229). Goals were set on day one, with attainment self‐scored on day five. Chi‐squared goodness‐of‐fit tests compared goal proportions per domain; tests of independence assessed changes in goals pre‐ and post‐pandemic. Six goal domains were identified: Approach‐Based Recovery, Avoidance‐based Recovery, Novel Physical Activities, Relationships, Health, and Recreation/Relaxation. Irrespective of the pandemic, goal attainment was consistently high across all programmes (86.56%). Approach‐based Recovery goals were predominant pre‐pandemic, but were significantly reduced post‐pandemic (p = 0.040). Goals related to Relationships and Novel Physical Activities took precedence throughout the pandemic. Post‐COVID‐19, consumer recovery goals reveal increased desire for connection, novelty‐seeking, and positive behavioural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate mental health nursing content in pre‐registration nursing curricula has been the topic of debate and concern since the introduction of comprehensive nursing education in Australia. Government‐initiated inquiries and the efforts of mental health professional organizations and leaders have not successfully addressed this problem. The aim of the current study was to garner the perspectives and experiences of mental health nurse academics regarding the adequacy of mental health content in producing graduates able to work effectively in mental health settings and identify barriers and enablers to implementing and sustaining sufficient mental health content in pre‐registration programs. A survey was distributed to mental health academics in Australian universities offering pre‐registration nursing degrees. In total, 44 complete responses were included in the analysis. The results demonstrated the following: Most participants considered the current mental health content, theory and clinical hours insufficient to prepare graduates for practice in mental health settings. They reported a scarcity of tenured mental health nurse academics to deliver content effectively. Most participants were dissatisfied with the comprehensive approach to nurse education and preferred a double degree (nursing and mental health nursing), or a direct entry mental health nursing program. These findings provide further evidence for the current crisis in mental health nursing education and highlight the need for urgent action. People accessing health services have the right to receive high‐quality care from appropriately qualified nurses. The inadequacy of mental health content in these programs effectively denies vulnerable people the standard of care and treatment they should be entitled to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]