In this episode, we delve into the world of mental health nursing with Jane Fisher, a lecturer in the field and a service user herself.

Jane shares her experiences and insights on self-disclosure, the complex identities nurses with mental health challenges navigate, and the power of authenticity in nursing practice.

She emphasizes the importance of developing advanced interpersonal skills and fostering a human-to-human connection in mental health nursing.

This episode unravels how Jane's journey as a nurse, lecturer, mental health service user, and psychiatric survivor has shaped her unique perspective on the field.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Jane discusses her role as a mental health nurse lecturer and her commitment to supporting students who have their own mental health challenges.

• The prevalence of students entering mental health nursing programs with pre-existing mental health conditions.
• The challenges of transitioning from being a nurse to becoming a mental health service user and the power imbalances that come with it.
• The impact of stigma on mental health professionals who have their own mental health challenges.

Jane shares her journey of embracing her multiple identities, including being a wounded healer, an empowered professional, a nurse, and a psychiatric survivor.

The importance of authenticity and acceptance in the mental health nursing profession.

How self-disclosure can be a valuable tool when used for the benefit of service users and students.

The need for tailored support and supervision for nurses with their own lived experience of mental illness.

Jane's perspective on the gaps in mental health nurse education and the essential interpersonal skills required for the profession.

Today's Guest:



Jane Fisher, a mental health nurse lecturer and service user, brings her wealth of experience to the field. Her journey through mental health challenges has ignited a passion for authenticity and support within the profession. Jane dedicates her time to guiding pre-registration nursing students, helping them navigate their path as mental health nurses. She emphasizes that personal experiences with mental health issues should not deter individuals from pursuing a career in the field. Her unique perspective on identity, self-disclosure, and the multifaceted roles of mental health professionals enriches the education of her students.

Jane's commitment to mental health nursing extends to advocating for a more authentic and inclusive approach to mental health care, benefiting both patients and colleagues.

Connect with Jane Fisher here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jane_fisher2

Read Jane’s Articles Here:

• Who am I? The identity crisis of mental health professionals living with mental illness
• The Problem with Resilience

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing 

It is such a common strategy or coping approach for many nurses to bottle up their feelings and hold on to things. This strategy makes sense in some circumstances. But in the long-run, it can be harmful.

In this podcast episode, Nathan Illman discusses the common phenomenon of bottling up, or suppressing, emotions. He provides a step-by-step process for individuals to start acknowledging and expressing their emotions. And he shows how you can support those you work with how to process emotions too.

Tune in to this episode as Nathan offers valuable insights and practical advice for nurses and healthcare professionals to improve well-being and foster open conversations about emotions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

Nathan discusses early experiences and cultural influences shaping emotional responses.

• Societal norms influencing the expression of anger, especially among women.
• Cultural variations in expressing emotions based on experiences.

The effects of bottling up emotions.

Self-reflection on the usefulness of bottling emotions.

Nathan emphasizes the importance of cultural competence and understanding diverse emotional responses.

Nathan offers strategies for individuals to explore and overcome emotional suppression.

Describing emotions as an aid in identifying and expressing their feelings.

Nathan gives a guide for professionals who are supporting individuals in the context of supervision or line management.

If you have found this helpful, you can check out Nathan’s self-compassion course for nurses online.

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing

Today's guest is Dr. Emma Wadey, a registered mental health nurse and Deputy Director of Mental Health Nursing for NHS England and Improvement.

Emma's humility shines through in her clinical work and leadership style. We discuss her experiences, including public speaking anxiety, her unexpected path into nursing, the impact of nursing identity, and her love for marathon running.

We also explore the Professional Nurse Advocacy Program, which Emma helped create, in part to prevent nurse suicides.

This episode offers valuable insights and practical takeaways for nurses of all backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of well-being and humility.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

Emma talked about the anxiety and challenges of virtual presentations.

Emma shared about the two things that drive her to keep going:

• Role modeling means doing as you say.
• A little bit of anxiety is a good thing.

The balance between advocating for one's profession and self-care.

Emma talks about the transformative power of engaging in physical activity such as running.

The value of self-awareness and self-care in maintaining a balanced life for Emma, especially with children.

Emma shares about the unexpected career shifts in her life and the lessons she learned from having a flexible career path.

Emma gives an overview of the PNA program.

The link between PNA and suicide prevention.

Emma encourages PNAs, emphasizing their value in promoting self-care and reaching for support.

Today's Guest:

Dr. Emma Wadey is a mental health nurse with over 20 years of experience and maintains clinical practice in a local psychiatric liaison service. She specializes in treating complex trauma, self-harm, and suicidality, drawing from her experience with suicide's impact. Emma co-produced teaching materials on supporting those with suicidal tendencies. She contributed to the creation of the StayAlive suicide prevention app. She's involved in developing the competency framework for self-harm and suicide. She serves as a national clinical adviser for the Mental Health Service Improvement Programme and clinical lead for the National Nurse Retention Programme.

In addition to her professional achievements, Emma embarked on marathon running as a mid-life endeavor, completing four of the Abbots World Major Marathons with plans to conquer the remaining two.

Connect with Dr. Emma Wadey here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawadey/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NursingEmma 

Follow Nathan and Nurse Wellbeing Mission for more practical preventative mental health tools for nurses and midwives:

Join our free Facebook group for wellbeing resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursewellbeingmission 

Find our wellbeing services at our website: www.nursewellbeingmission.com 

Instagram: @_nursewellbeingmission 

Twitter: @NurseWellbeing