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Although the value of humor is appreciated in mental health care, little is known about how professionals employ humor. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore how mental health professionals use humor. Academic databases were systemically searched. Papers were subjected to quality appraisal. Ten studies met eligibility criteria. Mental health staff used humor to cope with stress and adversity. They also used humor to enhance relationships with service users, and to erode team-related power dynamics. It was suggested that knowing when to use humor appropriately was dependent on experience and how well staff knew service users. However, it was also found that staff's use of humor was sometimes negatively perceived by service users, as it could reinforce power dynamics. Due to the limited and low level of evidence, it is recommended that rigorous research in the area of humor in mental health practice is undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐risk behaviours are sometimes encountered in Child and Adolescent inpatient mental health units and can prompt the use of coercive practices to maintain safety. Coercive practices may lead to re‐traumatisation of young people and deteriorating therapeutic relationships. Trauma‐informed practice (TIP) has successfully reduced coercive practices. While education is identified as foundational to implementation, evaluations of programmes remain minimal. The aim of this study was to explore mental health professionals' views and experiences of a trauma‐informed education programme and its likely impact on their approach to practice. Five mental health professionals agreed to participate, four contributed in a focus group and one in an individual interview. Data were analysed thematically using the Braun and Clarke Framework. Three main themes were identified. Firstly, shifting attitudes and perceptions of trauma‐informed practice. Participants believed they had developed more compassion towards clients and these attitudes were reflected in their clinical practice. Secondly, challenges associated with trauma‐informed practice educational intervention. Staffing issues and shift work made it difficult for participants to attend education sessions regularly. Participants identified barriers to practicing in a trauma‐informed manner in the current clinical environment. Finally, the need for interdisciplinary communication and support was identified. Participants saw the need for all professionals, not only nurses, to take responsibility for changing practice, and for stronger support at the organisational level. Trauma‐informed practice is crucial to recovery‐focused mental health nursing practice. These findings highlight the importance of TIP education and suggest areas for further improvement to enhance positive mental health outcomes for young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions exacerbated by high mortality rates. International and national guidelines recommend family involvement in the treatment process, recognising the family as an important source of support to young people. Research suggests fathers engage less in the process compared to mothers. In studies exploring parental perspectives, most samples consisted of mothers, with fathers minimally represented. Few studies explore family involvement from the perspective of fathers. This study aimed to explore the experiences of fathers regarding their involvement in the treatment process. Qualitative descriptive methods were used, involving focus group interviews of seven fathers. Interviews were assisted by a semi‐structured interview guide. A qualitative content analysis approach was used to analyse the data regarding paternal experiences of engagement in the treatment process. Fathers understood the importance of the whole family working together but viewed mothers as taking a more central role in the treatment process, with fathers more at the periphery. Gender emerged as an influencing factor in paternal involvement, with mothers primarily taking on responsibility for the child with the eating disorder and fathers providing secondary support. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the contribution of gendered roles within the family system and consider this when working with families within the treatment process. Consequently, mental health nurses have an important role in encouraging fathers to become actively involved in the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Self‐care is essential for nurses' wellbeing, with stress posing a major barrier. Research into self‐care is often absorbed into studies of burnout or resilience. Understanding lived experiences of influences on nurses' self‐care practices is essential. There is currently a paucity of literature on this topic. Aim: To explore mental health nurses' views about what influences their ability to self‐care in relation to workplace stress and the impact on their practice and work environment. Methods: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach was utilized. In‐depth interviews explored how nurses perceived the influence of environment and relationships on self‐care practices in the workplace. Results: Participants' perceptions and experiences are embodied by the theme: the nurse bombarded, comprising two subordinate themes—the nurse consumed by the intensity of work and therapeutic relationships; and feeling vulnerable from colleague relationships and feeling undervalued. Participants described conflict between workload demands and expectations and the desire to provide optimal care. Conclusions: Stressful working environments pose major barriers to effective self‐care. Feeling bombarded and vulnerable, impacts nurses' lives personally and professionally. Implications for Practice: Mental health nurses' self‐care is crucial for quality practice. Strategies to address relational, personal and environmental barriers to self‐care are therefore necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nursing workforce plays a central role in quality health care delivery. Nursing work is associated with high levels of stress due to often unmanageable workloads. The associated attrition poses a serious challenge for recruitment and retention strategies. Self-care is recognised as a tactic for addressing workplace stressors, shaping a sense of cohesion where the world is viewed as comprehensible, meaningful, and manageable, thereby mitigating the risk of burnout. Yet research suggests it is not widely utilised by nurses. The aim of this study was to understand mental health nurses' lived experience of self-care at work. The research was undertaken using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology. In-depth individual interviews explored nurses' attitudes to self-care and how they did or did not adopt self-care practices in the workplace. Data were analysed thematically. The Search for Equilibrium, was identified as the superordinate theme, developed from three subordinate themes, The past self: "tormented and spent", the intricacy of self-care, and the trusted inner circle: "safe and supported". These findings highlight the complexity of self-care and the importance of considering it as much broader than purely an intra-personal phenomenon, emphasising the importance of relationships and interpersonal connections. Time past, present, and future influenced how participants made sense of their workplace experiences. These findings provide a deeper understanding of self-care in response to workplace stress and could assist in developing strategies to promote self-care for nurses, and ultimately positively enhance recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses are central to health care as the largest professional workforce and the providers of constant, ongoing care. Difficulties retaining enough qualified and motivated nurses presents an ongoing problem that threatens the quality of healthcare delivery. Demands of nursing practice, often resulting in stress and burnout, is a major barrier to retaining nurses. Self-care approaches and techniques have proven effective in reducing stress and burnout, increasing job satisfaction and the likelihood of nurses remaining in the profession. Despite knowing the benefits, nurses frequently do not engage in self-care resulting in negative consequences both personally and professionally. To advance our knowledge in this important area, a review of the literature was conducted to explore nurses' experience of self-care and how they made sense of their experiences. The literature was analysed critically and synthesised through a phenomenological lens. The identified themes were structured according to phenomenological concerns: selfhood, mood and embodiment, sociality and relatedness, temporality, spatiality, and nursing culture. Understanding self-care from a phenomenological perspective is important to forming a deeper comprehension of nurses' relationship with self-care, including acceptance and resistance. This new knowledge can be used to develop strategies to encourage self-care. The implications for recruitment and retention within nursing, and ultimately to the quality of healthcare, are significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about the concept of domestic spaces in the book "The Female American; or, The Adventures of Unca Eliza Winkfield". Topics discussed include the book belonging to the genre of Robinsonades, the language of intimacy in the text, and the links between sexuality and political history in the text.